JoFY Bingo Wk.12

BINGO!! Yes JoFYBingo!  Its been a while.. but I am back on it - ready to roll out the all important numbers which this week are 2 & 30...
(if you've forgotten what JoFY Bingo is (and considering how long its been that would be understandable) the details can be found at the bottom of this blog post)

Baubles and Bees!  Could be tricky to combine - but I combined the large bauble and the honeycomb background (hexagons.. they're a favourite of mine!) to create a festive 'wreath'...

I could not have created this dedsign without the use of a Stamping Platform - if you don't have a platform already then GO AND GET ONE!!! They are such a useful tool to have - seriously - go buy one!!
(fyi: I use Crafts-Too's Press to Impress platform)

I started with a square piece of card (20x20cm). 

NB I work with my stamp platform so it opens and closes like a book (just pointing that out as some platforms work with the hinge at the top). I call the clear panel the stamps stick to the 'lid'... or sometimes the door

I'm going to repeat each image on all four sides of the panel of card. I positioned the large bauble in the centre of the panel (l to r) so I could see how looked, then I flipped it over and closed the lid of the platform transferring the stamp onto it.

I stamped the image.....

Rotated the panel, each time stamping the image.... 

I wanted images inbetween these so I drew a light pencil line corner to corner across the page,  positioned the image on the line, marked where it was to go....

Then stamped the second round of images... 

The stamping platform really is invaluable when you're stamping a design like the - it would be sooooo hard to repeat images accurately without one.

I wanted the design to have a background image so of course I used the honeycomb from JOFY30.  

First I need to create a mask so I covered the stamped images with light weight paper, traced around the image and cut it out (cutting only what was needed.)

I positioned and stamped the honeycomb design on all foursides (rotating the panel as previously)...

I repositioned the stamp and stamped around the panel again...

Here's the 'wreath' almost finished, but there were a few spaces that I felt needed filling...

I added the single fairy light bulb either sided of the bauble on the straight edge..

... and a single star in the small space in the corners...

You might be wondering where is the single star on either of this weeks stamp sets...?? Its actually the star from the top of the present pile...

I separated it from the main stamp with 2 clean cuts - I'm really careful when I do this so I don't damage the stamp's line.  The stamp will fit back together again when positioned on an acrylic block.

Here is the finished stamped design...  

I used a Tombow Brush marker to add splashes of colour and shadowing around the baubles to lift them off the page....

I die cut a circle and the word 'noel' added it (3d foam) to the centre of the wreath.  Here's the finished panel:

I'm so glad I have a stamping platform!! As I said earlier I wouldn't  be able to create this design without one.

I hope its inspired you to treat yourself to one. There are lots of tutorials on the web about how to use them - its a surprisingly versatile tool.

If you want to know about JoFY Bingo....here are the details:

The numbers are drawn on Monday, along with a project I've made using the corresponding stamp sets, then the plan is to:

• Use/combine 1 or 2 stamp sets (use only those stamp sets - but not all the stamps in each set - that would be too much of an ask but as long as there are one or two stamps from each set then its OK!)
• 7 days to create 1 project, makers choice:  cards... atc... journal page... dimensional project... tag...
• Use any paints/media, colours, embellishments, stencils/masks
• Load up your project to Instagram any time during the week.  Please use Instagram links #jofybingo and @jofyjo in the text (not 'tagging' me please) so I can find it :o)

I'm going to use/combine 2 stamps sets each week but if you'd like to join in but only have one of the chosen sets then join in using that set! 

Please come and play!

If you don't have an Instagram account you can add your project in the comments on the Facebook post linked to this blog post (facebook links:  https://www.facebook.com/JoFY.JoFirthYoung/ or https://www.facebook.com/jo.firthyoung )

Thanks for stopping by!

#365Challenge.... January: Part 1

Since the start of the year I've been creating postcard size (6x4in) mixed media journaling cards. Each one is prompted by the questions asked each day on the Flow Magazine Calendar.

I really like the idea of this - answer a question a day, make a card in the process... how hard could it be?! Well it turns out sometimes the questions are quite tricky to answer and make you think.. and sometimes if the questions are too tricky I just make a pretty card instead! lol

Its my plan and I'll bend the rules if I want to!

My self imposed 'rules' are brief:

1. Answer the questions

2. Use only supplies I have in my possession... attacking the stash as ever!

3. Make a card each day

4. HAVE FUN!!

I post the cards on Instagram (you can follow me on Instagram @jofyjo ) but I plan to upload them on here in batches - probably in groups of 10-15... here's the first group  (if you have any questions about the supplies used (want to know what the question was for a particular day) you can check my Instagram feed or leave me a message in the comments.)

 

There are all sorts of 365 challenges going on via blogs, twitter and Instagram so why not find one that suits you and give it a go...

Thanks for stopping by

x

Busy Busy Busy ....

... buzz.. buzz.. buzz...

I've had a lot of fun in recent workshops creating these cute box canvasses with people.. for each workshop I've tweaked the design slightly... so nice to see them all lined up..

The canvasses are an ideal size - at 4x6 inches they are no bigger than a standard greeting card.. so the design could be easily applied to a card if they are more 'your thing' than canvasses.

(I especially like the flying bees on the top of the canvasses - can't resist pinging them lol)

x

Inky painty indeed!

A day spent at That's Crafty, running my first workshop at this great craft shop (where they have probably the biggest range of stencils I have ever seen in one place! and lots of paints, inks, and other 'stuff' to work with them!) :o)

We created this cute canvas combining JOFY stamps with a Prima Julie Nutting girl stamp - I have a couple of these and they're adorable and, I think, work really nicely with the JOFY stamps.

Everyone in the class created lovely (and finished) canvasses - and had free range to choose outfits for their 'girls' from a pad of My Minds Eye papers - nice small designs which were perfect for dress fabric.

Here are a couple of boards:

I really liked the bold geometric of this dress (on Linda Carpenter's canvas) (I would wear that dress, if I was younger!), and the blue bee-hive.

This girl (Janette Smith's) also wore a largish print, this time with co-ordinating flowers - really fresh and summery.

People were sometimes undecided on how to layer up the dresses - with contrast pockets or without, with or without contrast sleeves so I suggested (because lets face it nowadays most people have a camera phone with them and its a useful tool) they photograph the dress with the options and then look at the photos - which is what we did with the cute blue yellow dress (on Liz Riding's canvas) shown below - love this option... (by the way: the contrast pocket option was chosen)

This was a fun class - & its always interesting at the end of a class to see how the canvasses are all so similar but all different at the same time.

x

I'll be getting 'buzz-y' at Blade Rubber Stamps...

... this Saturday with a workshop decorating a canvas and cards..

There are still a couple of places left so if you fancy an inky painty creative day then contact the shop to book your place..

Hope to see you there

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

DLP: Journal Page

I created these pages a few weeks ago (part of the DLP) using new (& at the time secret) PaperArtsy paint colours and stamps and all I could show you was a sneek peek - but now all the products are released for you all to enjoy.  I thought I'd show you the entire spread - relatively simple - lots of open space & lots of lovely new paint colours!!

the hexagons are from JOFY30 (I think I'm going to be using that stamp often!), the colours used are Jade, Bufr, Prawn, Orchid, Bougainvillea, Chalk, Yellow Submarine and there's probably some Slate in there too!  The letters are painted in Black Gesso - LUSH!!

x

Busy Little Bees....

... are part of my new stamp sets, and I thought I'd show you a couple of samples I made for the blog release - they make me smile - chubby busy little bees!

This is JOFY30

And here are a couple of samples:

A card using the hexagons as honeycomb pieces, and nice chubby bee and a sentiment.

And on this 10x10cm panel the bees are busy and one is off to gather supplies..

These stamps are now available at your local PaperArtsy stockist.


There will be more new products revealed on the PaperArtsy blog tonight - so head over there at 7pm, and again at 7.15... you won't be disappointed!

** NEW ** JOFY 2015....

Thank goodness - I can share with you my latest JOFY product designs... and I'm so excited to show you...(its been hard not letting any information slip!)

Leandra's put together a video telling you all about this release...

and over on the PaperArtsy blog you can see lots of samples that myself and a group of lovely creatives made with the new products. Please take a visit - the samples are lovely.

Tomorrow I have a project to show you created with the new stamps.

Hope you enjoy the new release.

x