June Workshops....

I'm teaching two half day card making workshops at Birds in the Barn (Studio 36) on 30th June and there are a couple of places remaining...

If you'd like to spend the morning or afternoon creating lovely cards with paints, inks, embossing powders and stamps then head on over to Birds in the Barn's website and you'll find all the details you need!

Hope to see you there!

Love Life Canvas workshops...

Do you like working on box canvasses but find them a bit tricky - working down the sides, over the edges, working on the unstable surface?? Then I might have just the perfect workshop for you!

Working on 2 fabulous flat pack, self assembly canvasses (don't worry about the 'flat pack'  they're easier to assemble than Ikea furniture!) we'll go from this...

... to this ... using paints of your choosing, stamps and stencils...

The canvasses are SO easy to work on and look just like a fabric canvas! I'd like to shake the hand of the person who thought of the idea - they are a little bit genius!! lol

I love this project!! Its so summery & fun!! And because I like it so much I have scheduled 3 workshops around the country using them.... 

In calendar order:

If you're in/near Essex the workshop is at Birds in the Barn (now located at Studio 36) on Saturday 14 April 2018, limited spaces remaining...
Call  01376 326358 to book a place, and to get more details... or visit the website

If you are based in the north of England I have a weekend of classes for Rowan Tree Crafts, Carnforth on 21-22 April 2018 (you can find details about that here) and I'll be running this workshop on the Sunday. 
Go to the website for more details.

Then last, but by no means least, if you're in the Kent area you can join me at The Artistic Stamper on Saturday 12 May 2018.. and you can find details here 


These are going to be fun workshops and I hope you can join me!

April Workshops... Part 1

I have several inky painty workshops coming up in April all of which I'm really looking forward to!

First up is at Studio 36 (aka Birds in the Barn) on 14 April 2018.  Workshops for Birds in the Barn will now take place at Studio 36 in Braintree
(NB this is not a shop location).

In this workshop we'll be painting, stenciling and stamping 2 box canvases using all new JOFY products combined with paints, inks and die cuts.

This is a lovely bright summery project - a great tonic for the wet cold weather we're experiencing here in the UK at the moment - roll on spring & summer!

The cost of this class is £45.00 and includes lunch!  Call  01376 326358 to book a place.

Hope to see you there!

BOO!

... yes BOO!  just grabbing your attention as its been a while since I blogged - once a month for the past few months really is not good enough is it!. Life, work and 'stuff' got in the way.. but I'm back with a new determination to do better! (well lets be honest - I can't do much worse can I!)

aaaanyhoo

let get things started...

At the beginning of August I demo'd at Birds in the Barn near Colchester in Essex (lovely shop in the grounds of an equally nice garden centre - worth a trip) and in the morning I was using the fabulous Distress Oxide inks.... if you don't have any of these yet you need to get yourself down to your nearest craft shop and get some - you won't regret it...

Here are some of the samples.... look at the prettiness - the opaqueness of these inks...  and that's the main difference I think between the Oxides and original Distress Inks....

and because they're opaque you can build up layers of colour - the samples below illustrate that... add a colour, dry, add another colour:

Water will affect the Oxide inks in the same way as the originals.  The sample top right in the photo below shows a blended background where I spritzed a stamp with water and pressed it onto the surface - this removes the ink (left hand panel) and on the panel on the right I over stamped using the Distress Oxide (oh yes, you can stamp with them as normal)

The sample on the bottom left of the above photo is where I've added Broken China ink to a kraft panel (using a blending tool), dried that layer and then overstamped with the image using the same colour ink.

The kraft panel sample below was created by pressing ink onto craft sheet, spritzing with water and then laying the kraft panel onto the ink - this was Peeled Paint ink - look how the Oxide has drawn out the blue that goes into making up the green colour - love how different colours are drawn out.

The other sample above was created with lots of layers of Distress Oxide, water splashes and stamping with the Oxides. I stamped on numbers (using black Archival) and they seem to 'hover' on the surface don't they?! as if there is a layer of acetate between the oxides and the archival... interesting.  I painted the right had set of numbers with water to lift some off the colour.

When I get inks or paints I like to create a sample swatch of each for reference and with the Oxides I splashed each one with water to see how water affected the Oxide side of the inks....  The most interesting of these was Frayed Burlap - it was a surprising result when splashed with water and dried - so much so that I repeated it with a second tag. The first tag is on top on right, second tag on left underneath.  Look how different the effect is!  I think this is one of the interesting things about the inks. (note: the ink was applied by rubbing the ink pad over the tag so the ink is quite saturated/intense).

Here's a card I made using one colour of ink - Walnut Stain, bit of a favourite of mine.  Blended the background, splashed with water. Dried the ink. Stamped with same colour (seedhead from JOFY38, another favourite). Dried. Then spritzed the stamp with Perfect Pearl Mists in Heirloom Gold - this removed the ink and left a lovely sparkly image that catches the light (photo on right)... a little bit lush isn't it!

But it isn't only backgrounds and stamping you can do with the inks - I am loving how you can water colour paint with them as I've done on the sample below... (image is from JOFY53)

I hope these simple samples inspire you to try the inks - they really are worth it (but please don't blame me when you realise you NEED the entire set).

x

WHAAAT!!!

How is June already?!?!  and how is it June 12th??!!?!

Seriously, I don't know where the past couple of months have gone, and they haven't been the easiest of times - but June is filling me with optimism (well apart from the large vet bill BertieCat has created by getting into some kind of mischief last month... very glad he's insured!). The garden is looking all green and lush - the plants are all flowering and we're having glimpses of summer weather - I say glimpses because I swear we had a monsoon for a couple of days last week! lol  Got to love the English weather!

I have a few teaching dates lined up (you can see them all if you click on the 'Teaching and Demonstrating' button under the main banner at the top of the page) I just wanted to let you know about a couple coming up later in June...

17th June:  I'll be demo'ing at Birds in the Barn, Marks Tey, Essex

24th June:  Workshop at That's Crafty, Romford, Essex - In this class we'll create a box canvas with a difference, and it will feature new (oh yes: NEW!!) products....   click HERE to go to the website to book your place.

I hope you can make it to either (or both!) of these events, it would be great to see you!

x

Upcoming workshop...

... at Birds in the Barn (Marks Tey, Essex) on Saturday 08 April 2017.  There are still places available, so if you'd like to come along to create a gorgeous canvas using stamps, stencils, paints and inks then contact the shop (01206 211099) to book a place.

Hope to see you there!

x

Demo Day at Birds in the Barn....

Finally getting back to the blog! ... here are the cards/samples I created for a demo day at Birds in the Barn (Marks Tey, Essex) earlier in the month.  I really enjoyed using Kim Dellow and Zinski Art's stamps and stencils/masks to create masterboards, cards and panels.

 Lots of cutting out, paper piecing and layering up the flowers...

It was nice to use embossing powders again - the white embossing gives the masterboard a lovely delicate fresh look.

Stamp sets used were PaperArtsy EKD05, EKD06 and ZA08

A Cover Up...

... This class at Birds in the Barn proved popular so another date was booked  - this coming Sunday (11th December) - there are a couple of spaces left.

If you fancy spending the day away from the christmas frenzy getting inky, stampy, painty up-cycling an old book into a journal/scrapbook then contact the shop to book your place.

Hope you can join us!

Workshop: A Cover Up....

.... at Birds in the Barn, Marks Tey on Saturday 26 November 2016.

Here's information for those of you booked on the workshop:

You will need to bring with you an old hardback book that will be up-cycled into the new journal/scrapbook/album - ideally the book should be around 5x7inches (13x18cm) with a 1in (2.5cm) spine.... older books work better for this project because of their construction.  (If you can't get one before Saturday we will have some spares for you to use.)

If you are planning to use this workshop to start an album with a particular theme or to store photos of a particular event then please bring some of the photos with you - FYI we are working to a 6x4in page size so bear that in mind if you are printing photos to use.

I'm excited about this workshop (can't wait to see what is created from old books!) and look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

x

PS This workshop sold out on the day it was released so Janet has added another date:
Sunday 11th December
if you missed out on the original date I hope you can join us on this one.

Demo day!!....

... just a quick reminder that I'll be over at the lovely Birds in the Barn, Marks Tey, tomorrow...  where I'll be getting inky & painty with Gelli Plates, Fresco Finish paints, PaperArtsy stamps and stencils...

Really looking forward to visiting the shop again - its been a while - I hope you can join me!


x

Final class of the year.... Part 2

.... a fun class creating this:

A 6x4 box canvas - people could make this with an initial of their choice - would make a cute gift..

and here are a few of the lovely colour variations created by the ladies in the class:

I'd demo'd painting the box in green and was really pleased when Denise (Denise, I think this is your  - apologies if its not) made hers using the same colour and pink flowers - one of my favourite colour combinations - so pretty!

I LOVE this yellow version - so bright and fresh and sunny! I think I may have mentioned on here how I am not a fan of yellow - but this project of Sue's may have converted me! Gorgeous. (Sue was wearing a cobalt blue top on the day so it looked even more striking against that!).

This blue and yellow version (Sue's) - again its swaying me towards yellow - love it - so fresh!

They all created beautiful projects.... I might have to rethink yellow!

x

Final class of the year.... Part 1...

... took place at Birds in the Barn, near Colchester in Essex... a 1/2 day demo and a class in the afternoon.

In the morning I worked with Emma Godfrey's new stamps for PaperArtsy - love these stamps!

They can be used in lots of ways... here are a few of my samples for, & from the day.. (please excuse the light quality!)... here are samples using EEG15:

Start of a journaling panel on chipboard/greyboard:  painted, printed with bubble wrap, stamped with images from EEG15 in 2 colours, the stars are from JOFY20 (on the top of the tree).

This is a more 'clean and simple version of the chipbard panel - this time as an 'any occasion' card.

This card started off as an experiment - one of the ladies at the demo (waving at you, Sue) thought that the swirls (running across the centre of the card above) could be flowers.. so we put together this card - the swirls had stems added, then I stamped on stems from JOFY12 (love these stems!)...

I added a touches of white to lift the images.  After the demo I attached the panel to a white panel and because I didn't have glue handy I attached it with staples.

This panel is a mix of demo'ing simple paint application techniques using Fresco Finish paints - the base is a colour blended background, stamped with bubble wrap, & using paint to stamp the images - the words across is just a reassuring phrase to not worry when you're painting backgrounds: its just paint on paper!

Here are samples using EEG13.. I wanted to show that this set is not just for love or valentines but when I look back at the samples they are a little bit loved-up! lol

This card is another clean-&-simple use of the stamps, this time from EEG13. (created by making a mask & stencil with the heart stamp and layering the images.)

 A page of book text rough whitewashed and rough painted again (when dry) with watercolour paints. The hearts are cut out of book text, glued in place and the edges darkened with paint and pencil.. the lines are hand drawn.

 This is a page created in my small sketchbook - pages are 6x4 - the dinky size is nice to work in - comfortable - and great for putting down quick thoughts.. The background was created by me cleaning off the roller and bubble wrap (there's the bubble wrap again! - I have bubble wrap and I'm not afraid to use it.. and use it... and use it...).  The three main hearts are stamped onto coloured paper, cut out, glued on and shaded around to make them lift of the page.

I {heart} the simplicity of this card - just two stamped images.  The heart is stamped on to a book page mounted onto card (to strengthen), cut out and suspended on a strip of acetate on the front of the card.

Then I started to mix it up a little...

Stamped the heart onto patterned paper, attached to the card and drew a stem.  Stamped small seedheads around the stem. I stamped and cut out leaves from green paper and attached these to the stem - now the heart is starts to look like a flower.

These stamps are lovely to work with - in stock at Birds in the Barn.

x

Paint, paint, stencil, stamp....

Paint, paint, stencil, stamp....

Paint, paint, stencil, stamp....

Paint, paint, stencil, stamp....

This is how I spent the weekend and enjoyed every minute! Here is a selection of samples, thanks to everyone who came to the two demo days at:

*  The Craft Barn - I'll be here again on April 26th for a class - see the website for details, and to book a place

*  & Birds in the Barn - I have a day of card classes here on May 2nd - ring the shop (01206 211099)  to book a place.

This sample is unfinished but I wanted to share it with you - I like the mix of painted and paper-pieced elements:

If you bought products at either day I hope you enjoy and have fun with them.

x

A weekend of JOFYness

This weekend I will be in two places - yes TWO demo'ing the latest JOFY stamps, paints and stencils - it seems aaaaages since I've done this and so I'm really looking forward to both days very much...

On Saturday I'll be at The Craft Barn, Nutfield inSurrey

and on Sunday I'll be at Birds in the Barn, Marks Tey near Colchester in Essex.

I hope to see you at either of these lovely shops



x

Birds in the Barn SummerFest...

... was fun, and the rain on the day I taught at this four day event didn't dampen the attendees enthusiasm - everyone got busy and painted, stamped & stenciled to build a working clock..

I was so pleased that all the ladies finished their clocks - here they are with their projects.. usually in classes people choose their own colours to work with and are all different but the ladies all followed the sample with subtle different touches to the painting and positioning...

My main sample has a plain background (above) but the one I created in class to go on the wall at Birds in the Barn has spots stamped in Pearl Glaze and this created a lovely shimmer on the background.

It was a lovely event organised by Birds in the Barn and I was pleased to be a part of it.  You can find the shop's website HERE for news of upcoming classes and the shop location.

Busy, busy, busy...

... fun, fun, fun! The next few weekends (well this whole month really) are full of creative workshops - here's where I'll be during the first 2 weekends in the month - by the way I don't normally blog several events at once but on this occasion/just this once - here we go - in calendar order:

5-6 July 2014
I'm pleased to visit Colemans Warehouse in Northampton.
Saturday is their monthly demonstration day & I'll be demo'ing the latest JOFY stamps, paints & stencils...

On Sunday I'm running 2 workshops - a card class in the morning and a project class in the afternoon.
There are a couple of places left - contact the shop to book your place.


11 July 2014
The Birds in the Barn SummerFest, held at The Marks Tey Hotel, near Colchester. This is a 4 day event (10-13 July) and I'm teaching a tick-tock of a project.. its an oversized pocket watch style clock decorated with all sorts of JOFY/PaperArtsy products.
I'm really looking forward to this event- its going to a lot of fun, creativity & inspiration - 6 great teachers running workshops over the 4 days.
Contact the shop to book a place, or for more information click here to go to the shop's blog.

13 July 2014
My latest workshop at The Craft Barn   a little 'house/shed' with a garden theme - containing the bits & pieces you'd need for a garden - but all in paper and miniature.  We'll use paints, stamps, diecuts and little miniature elements to create a decorative 'greenhouse'..
(adorable - even if I do say so myself! lol)

I'd love to show you how to create all these projects so please follow the links and contact the shops to book your place.

x