Saturday 28 July 2012

Our few days away...

As you know, last weekend I made the trip to Docraftsland to film some more video's for the Creativity Club... and I just wanted to share a few photos of the little trip down there.

After leaving the house early morning ( !! ) we arrived down there around midday, and stopped off at the HighClere Castle to have a quick mooch around. Oh what a lovely building!

I wasn't too bothered about looking inside, but wanted to take a peep at the gardens - I love taking photographs of flowers, something I did to pass my ND in Photography years ago and that passion has never left.

So, this first photograph is of HighClere Castle from the grounds.. do you recognise it? It is of course the same building that is used for Downton Abbey.

And a little view whilst playing around with the Panorama setting of the new camera.


And then we took a walk around the grounds and came across quite a few beautiful flowers..

There were a couple of different gardens to look around, and this one was the Monk's Garden.
The lavender looked and smelled amazing.


We stayed near the centre of the New Forest, and it was absolutely beautiful. This is the little village of Minstead, where there were loads of thatched cottages which looked absolutely beautiful!

This is the Trusty Servant pub - just one of two in that area.

And of course the Village green and shop. I love how the stocks are fastened shut... me thinks they should be made available for anyone who needs them.. ha ha.

A nice relaxing couple of days had, beautiful hot weather, and I was off to film the next few episodes for Creativity TV...

Friday 27 July 2012

Playing with the colouring....

You know how much I love stamping? You know how much I love colouring? Well.... this card is the result of both of those things...

Now.... the image is one I fell in love with whilst doing my Docrafts demonstration at Derby Garden Centre the other week, where one of the girls who work there had done a stamped card using it... and she did an absolutely awesome job of colouring it!

I hunted high and low for the stamp as they had sold out at the store, and I found it eventually. So I just wanted to share my card with you.

This picture shows the papers that I chose to use for the colouring.. I always choose my papers first, then colour my image to match it in.. and these old Papermania papers were in my paper stash and I rediscovered them when tidying out my room the other day. They are just stunning. No wonder I found about three packs of them!!

The other thing that I like to do is to keep a track of what colours I've used for colouring.. so I stamp two images, and as I colour I make a colour chart. I note down the colour I used and what papers I used too, or even just staple a couple of pieces of paper to it, and keep it in a folder. It's a great way to keep track of your favourite cards.

Here are a few close ups for you.



I really enjoyed colouring this image... and I'm sure I'll be colouring it again soon!

Whatever you're upto today, I hope you enjoy it..

Happy Crafting!!

I love my job....


I'm not sure how many times I say it every day, either to you folks, or to myself.. but honestly.. I do love my job!! It's got to be the bestest ever!!

I get to share my time with like minded folks, meet up with the wonderful people who make Docrafts a special company to be part of, and get inspiration from some fab designers that we have!

So, when I get asked to go to Bournemouth to shoot some tutorial video's for Creativity Tv, obviously I jump at the chance! I have throughly enjoyed it this time as the day was filming with the lovely Emma, who is head of the Creativity Club. Here's a little shot that Rob - our camera guy - took of us both in the brand spanking new studio!

We had a great day... and I had a fab few days away in the sunshine - so I was looking rather red and sunburnt on the photo... lol.. but all is well now, I'm back to white!

I hope you check out the video's over on the Creativity Club, and remember, there are looooads of free (yes... FREE) downloads on the Creativity Club section too!

Until next time... happy Crafting...

Thursday 26 July 2012

Fun.....

I just love this song... I don't know why.. but I just do!!!!

A little inspiration...

Little being the operative word here!!! lol..

This past Monday over at the Crafty Bloggers Network, we have a few more cards for your delectation... and here is mine for you to look at!

The theme this past month has been 'Anything Goes'... so this is what I came up with.. I think it's a really cute image, and just perfect for my Papermania 4 inch square cards...

The image was coloured using alcohol pens, then shaded with water pencils. The highlights were done with a white gel pen...

Sorry this post is short and sweet - but I'm battling to keep my eyes open after a very few busy days... so I will post more tomorrow about this weeks carryons.... lol..

happy Crafting! xxxx

Friday 20 July 2012

Purple and Green...

This isn't the saying of 'should never be seen' is it? Nope? Good.. then I'll carry on and show you this little card.

On my 'relaxing' evening yesterday, I decided to take a stamp I'd not used before and find some papers that I haven't clapped eyes on for a while and team them up to create a card. This was my challenge to myself..

The paper was some beautiful purple and green Papermania paper from a while ago, but still as wonderful and vibrant!

What do you think??

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Colourful eh?!

I used the paper as inspiration for the colouring, so obviously it had to be purple and green. I used pencils to colour.

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She is the cutest little stamp and a doddle to colour too. I really enjoyed getting grubby and inky and didn't spend too long on the colouring either - which is always a bonus with the pencils!

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I cut out a part of a second coloured image and layered it together onto the first to give her a little more dimension. Even her bow was done the same way.

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The flower was cut from white card and inked with lilac ink to match the colour theme.. I then scrunched it up and gathered it together with a brad.
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The little tag was one I got free with a set of stamps - we do have some fantastic tag stamps out at the minute by Docrafts, and they always prove popular too - but I didn't want to use too big a tag on this one, so freebie had to suffice.

Well.. that's all I've got for now - off to do some more creating now I've been bitten by the creative bug again... now where did I put those pencils....!

I've coloured!!!

I totally deserved to have a bit of me time too!

I've had a pretty busy week with one thing or another, and today was just a bit busier than usual.. however, after spending quite a while tidying up the clutter in my craft room, and getting bits put back where they needed to be, I thought I'd sit down this evening and do a little bit of colouring.

This is what I came up with - and I'm quite pleased with it if I'm honest..

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The card was one I bought from the craft fair the other week, and I've only just found them again - I know... I told you I needed a tidy up! lol.

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as you can see, it's a stepper card, and it has quite a few different layers to it.. but it looks really lovely when it's built up.

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The image was one I've had a while and it had never been inked up.. so bless her, I thought she'd look lovely on this card.

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I coloured her with a red tint to her brunette hair.. and kept the colours quite vintage and this worked best with the papers that I chose to use. The papers were from an old Papermania pad which I unearthed whilst sorting. (They are now in my 'need to use these more!' pile of papers.)

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The flowers... oh the flowers.. well, to be honest.. it's amazing what you find when you start rootling through your stash you know!

Again, these are Papermania and I've had them for ooooooodles of time. Not sure how long, but thankfully the adhesive on them was still sticky. Haha. Aren't they pretty?

I thought they went really well with the colours of the card. I hope you like it too.. please check back tomorrow too... I'll show you the other card I've been working on!

Sunday 15 July 2012

Busy? well... just a tad...

I'm in the middle of a busy couple of weeks, but I'm not complaining because I have the best job in the world. But it is busy. And I am doing a fair bit of running around, but it's all good fun.

for instance.. This last week I spent the week creating projects for next week, and projects to create on TV this weekend. Next week, I've appointments and demo's and also having a run down to the beautiful Bournemouth to film some future episodes of Creativity TV.

Yesterday, I was in Manchester at the Lowry Centre, and met some absolutely wonderful ladies and gentlemen.. Pat, Hilda, Elvis to name a few.. but each and every one of the customers who came to spend some time with me is worthy of a mention. I thoroughly enjoyed the day, and from the feedback I got, so did they.

I did promise to upload a few samples - and I will - but I am currently down in Peterborough at Create and Craft for the day.. so tomorrow afternoon it will be on my agenda!

Next week, I'm up in Sunny Southport at the Range. Will you be popping along next Saturday to see me? I do hope so.

Well.. must dash... speak soon all!!!


Friday 13 July 2012

A evening full of fun..

I have been running my craft class now for quite a while, and one of the things I love to do is sit and come up with projects for the ladies (and gents) to do. Yes folks.. we do have a lovely fella called Ian come to make cards with us - and he's very good!!

This is what I came up with this week for our class to create.

The theme for this weeks projects was 'Butterflies', and I used punches, dies and arty-farty doodling to create these projects.

The die cut butterfly at the front must be my favourite. I love it! I have seen a few of these designs which were pointed out to me by a friend a while ago, and thought to myself "Docrafts dies and embossing folders!!" and so out they came to create this little beauty.

The one on the right, I doodled and created using watercolour pencils and a dash of glitter.. well, it just bought it to life and I couldn't resist!! The idea from this card came from a blog by a lady called Sarita. (I'll find the link later) and her artwork is amazing... but this feathery shape was one of the easiest ones to do.

I hope you like the cards, everyone in class thoroughly enjoyed them too!

Thursday 12 July 2012

Docrafts essentials...

Every two months, Docrafts bring out a fantastic array of new products to demonstrate with in the stores. As a designer I get my kit and set on making samples.. and here are a few that I have taken to my first demo of this two month loop.

Sorry for the photos, they were taken on my mobile. But I hope it gives you some sort of idea what you can do with the new products.

This was created using the beautiful new card blanks that are available. These have a pearlescent finish to them and are overlaid with the Christmas wording.. just beautiful.

I used the new Christmas range of products and combined it with the Strictly Party papers. The border was made using the multishaper punch.

I love the simplicity of this card. I have a thing about embossed designs, and of course, I love the white on white look. Occasionally I will ink over the design, but not too often.

I embossed the card, and I also embossed the image so I had a little border to cut around so I knew that the image fitted perfectly into the frame.

Last but not least - a simple, stylish little card. This was made using several offcuts - the paper, the card mount, etc... so I just teamed it up with the new fab Dimensions stickers and this little card was done and dusted. Quick and Easy Peasy!

I hope you like the new products just as much as I do.. I will share more when I get chance to get a photo of them.. I've been busy this week preparing for a demo over at CraftWorld in the Lowry Centre, Manchester on Saturday, but also had a show on Monday at Create and Craft, and have more this coming week.

Please leave me a comment so I can nip over to say hello to you on your bloglet.. I love blog hopping!


Wednesday 11 July 2012

Poorly pupsters...

Awwww.... today my furbabies are not well... they're all feeling a little under the weather with a bit of a doggy-bug that seems to be going around. Truly has been up most of the night needing the toilet, bless her.

So, I'm going to share a few recent snaps of my lovable furballs here with you.

Here's Truly - yes, I know she looks sad. This is her doing the 'whites of the eyes' game. Everyone she does this to is putty in her hands, and she definately knows how to milk it!


My baby girl... this is little Holly... aka Hollypop / Lollypop.. She is always the one who hates her photo taken, always refusing the look in the direction of the camera. She is officially camera shy.. but I got her on this one - the new pointyshooty camera works wonders for some things!

And Mr Scoobs... the Scoobster! Here he is on his 6th birthday at the weekend.. he'd just woken up from his slumber (yes.. another one!! Very inactive, my springers don'tcha know!) and was looking a bit worse for wear.. but he's always happy to pose for the cameras.

So there we have it.. a little family of under the weather furbabies... Get well soon furry friends!

Friday 6 July 2012

Very elegant...

Hellooooo everyone... how are you? Today sees my youngest daughter turn 16.. where did that time go?!

I've had a busy old week this week - from making samples for next Monday's show on Create and Craft (and different ones for Sunday too!) to coming up with a few different cards for my demo at the lovely shop that is Craft Central in Derby.

I am down there on the 7th July (which incidentally is my Mr Scoob's birthday!) and will be demonstrating between 10am and 4pm.

I don't usually share my cards before my demos start, so here's just one - only one - that I really wanted to share with you. Mainly because I love it. The 'Strictly' range from Docrafts is just beautiful. What do you think?

This is made using the new Chelsea Green collection of papers and the glittered decoupage from the Strictly Christmas range. A perfect combination.

I must make a move and do some more prep.... a very busy week ahead and little time to do it.

Happy Crafting everyone!!!

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Christmas forever friends

Helloooooo!!!

Just a very quick post from me today as I'm a little shattered - well, lots shattered after an exciting day out with my daughter, Carley.

We've been out and about looking at the University of York, where she would like to apply to go to this next year. By 'eck.. what a place!! Who knew that the campus was spread out so far!

My feet feel like they've dropped off, my big toe is hurting with walking so far, and my hips are aching with all the bloomin' steps we walked up and down!!! However, a good day was had and things are looking good!

anyway. My card for today... another Christmas card from the other week's shows.

I love this christmas kit.. the little retro forever friends - and this is my favouritest image ever! Doesn't he look cute with his little hat on?

I used mirror card to add a little shine to the card, and kept the layering quite simple. I finished it off with a few papermania roses.

Well... as I say, it's just a quick post tonight.. but I hope you call by and say hello.. I will promise to come by your bloglet and say hello back - I love blurfing!

Until tomorrow...

Lots of love, Jo xxx

Couldn't resist...

Sorry.. but I had to include these two quick photos of my furbabies.

Firstly, a little snap of Truly looking quite sedate. And believe me, sedate is not a word she understands!

She is a little bit of a hyperactive lily... a typical red head you could say.. but she has so much character, she's adorable.

And my boy...

This is one wooflet who really loves his photo taken as you may guess. My Scooby doo.. you're such a poser!

I've coloured them both in black and white to add a difference.. love black and white photos.

Hope you like them too!

A little bit of Christmas...

How are we all today?

Today has been a funny ol' day really... it started off early with me needing to do a Guest Blog post for someone, which took a little longer than I thought... and by the time I'd finished, it was time to feed my wooflets and grab a cuppa! I then set to and started to make my samples for Saturday.

Did you know I'm at Craft Central, Derby Garden Centre this weekend? No?? Well, I am there from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, and we have lots of lovely new stash in store for you to peruse!

I have an abundance of loveliness ready to show you, with the new Happy Days collection, and also the new stunning Strictly collections - Christmas and Party.. these are simply beautiful.

There is also a little bit of Christmas with the new range, and also TWO (yes, two!!) Goody bags..

But alas.. I just have a few more older samples to show you from the previous Create and Craft shows that I have done. These were on our Christmas show a few weeks ago.

I love the Noel range that was out last year. It is very cute, and quite folk - arty.. a lovely little collection if I say so myself. I teamed it up with an aperture card that I created with a punch, and some of the lovely glittered vellum we had on the show.

Awww.. Penelope and Percy... how sweet are these???!!! A simple die cut decoupage layered with silver mirror card and the lovely glittered vellums again.

But what am I doing talking about Christmas in July? The weather outside isn't particularly bad, although there has been alot of rain this past week or so, but it's been fantastic for the hanging baskets. Everything seems as though it finally wants to break into bloom, and this little flower is no exception.

This is my pink nemesia. I love nemesia. I am going to call my next dog Nemesia.. ! Such a beautiful name for a beautiful flower. I had one years ago that our old neighbour Rob gave me before he passed away, and it eventually withered and never reflowered after a few years, which for a bedding plant is quite good!

So, after I saw this one and a dark blue one down in B and Q, I decided I was going to get another. Aren't they dainty?!

Another flower that is always a must is a petunia. Everyone needs a petunia. This vibrant pink colour contrasts really well with the dark blues and pinks in this one basket.

And a rose. What is a garden without a rose?! It was just a quick shot of the bud before the heavens decided to thrust their anger upon me, but I quite like the photo so I thought I'd share it.

Now... I did get an email yesterday about a couple of things.. first one was about the camera I used. Well, we have a Fuji finepix (not sure of the model number, but was from Curry's - new for 2012 if that helps?) and these photos and others were taken on the super macro setting.

Secondly, was about my upcoming shows on Create and Craft. I have a calendar up at the top of my blog and I do try to keep it well updated with my dates in there. Some dates show up as private, others you can see where I am and what I'm doing. I hope that helps.

Righty.. must make a move.. it's bed time and a very very busy day for me tomorrow. Please check back though.. there may be something small and hairy waiting to say hello!

Until next time.. take care, and happy crafting!

Monday 2 July 2012

Mrs Wellington...

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?

Today is a very special day.... after many changes, upsets and alterations, the Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge blog is back up and running. Me and Geraldine have taken over the running of the blog, and I must admit, it's going from strength to strength... We have a new Design Team who are absolutely fantastic.. Please go over to take a look at their fab work.. it's amazing!

here is my card for the first challenge, ANYTHING GOES..

I decided that I wanted to create a feminine card so opted to use the Lucy Cromwell papers and the Wellington topper. But to make it more feminine, I added a bow to Wellingtons head.. I think it looks abit cute!

The flowers were made from scraps of paper, just coiled around and stuck down.

so.. what else have I been upto this past week or so... well, working on magasine commissions and also trying to sort out the Crafty Bloggers Network to get it up and running, and making it stronger than it was before.. I've also been playing around with our new acquisition! It was decided that we needed a smaller camera to carry around when visiting places.. so we just bought a Fuji finepix... I must say... I'm suitably impressed!

Here is a couple of quick snaps taken on the supermacro setting.. they were really quick photos as it was chucking it down with rain..

These were a couple of petunias in my hanging basket. Love the vein-y contrast!

And this one is my two boys together - one son who has just returned from the Carribean, so is looking very nicely suntanned (and also a bit tired.. lol) ... and my woofer - who is such a poser whenever he sees a camera!

I will try to get back on more often to post more pictures - believe me.. I've alot to show you! I need more time me thinks.. lol.

Please check out the Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge though... you'll love to play along, I'm sure.

Until next time.. happy crafting!
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