Jo Firth-Young at the Craft Barn

Treated myself to an all day class at the Craft Barn with Jo Firth-Young last Sunday.  Its quite a drive, fine going there, bit knackered on the way home, kept myself going with the thought of the yummies I had treated myself to.  The shop at the Craft Barn is amazing full of so much I needed (like everything), thankfully I don't have a Credit Card so had to exercise some restraint.

Our class with JoFY was using Claudine's stamp range and Paper Artsy Fresco paints, I'd used the paints in fact I have them all because they are lush in a chalky sort of way, had never used the stamps before but they are really easy to use and the effect was really good, so treated myself to the Doodles sets as I thought they would go well with the layering technique I use so much.  Also discovered Tando Creative range, managed to only buy three pieces but could easily have bought so much more, a whole wall of them on display and I probably need most of them, LOL.

This is Jo's sample, we were stamping on sticky back canvas, paper and book pages, for ease Jo said it would be easier to do if we all used the same colours as the stamps wouldn't need washing in between, but I'm just not a pink person, don't mind bits of it, but not all over, so had to go slightly off piste, I know I can't help it, but it puts a piece of me into it, so here is mine

It actually involved a lot of work, so had to finish it at home, had done all the stamping it was just the cutting out and the positioning and that took some time I can tell you, I'm pleased with the finished result and I hope Jo is proud of my effort.

We also made a door hanger in the morning . . . .

 . . . getting used to using the stamps, I have to admit I wasn't happy with my effort on this, so ripped all the flowers off the next day, shall have to finish it off again another day.  All in all it was a great day, Jo is a lovely teacher and as you will see on her blog she manage not to brain herself, though some might say (leandra) it might be an improvement . . LOL .  I have to admit it was a great day but I haven't got the stamina any more and could have done with a day off from work to recover, no such luck though.

November Calendar

wow I cant believe it only one more month to go, I have never got past the middle of January with a diary before so this really is a miracle, without further ado. . . November

and a finished October, a month of ups and downs

to find out more about our fearless leader and the calendar challenge, click here.

FACT: - Mess is good for you

This week I took a picture for WOYWW, but didnt have a chance to load it, this working full time lark is not all its cracked up to be, no time to do anything else.

So my desk has looked like this since Tuesday, but I actually liked working in a mess, finding more and more things to use and not putting them back, (so not me). I think it gave me a lovely feeling of creativity and freedom, and it seemed the mojo  flowed out of me easier this way, normally I sit and stare at a tidy desk and feel I have to force it out sometimes, so today I sat down to finish off the large tag you can see here, I did really enjoy making it, I stole an idea of Kaz's re the jump rings and the glossy accents, all credit to you Kaz brilliant idea. So here is my tag with flash and without, couldnt decided which showed it off better so here are both photo's for you to see.....

 

And finally a card that I made for my sister in law, love this stamp just got it recently, and I just love the detail it has, so I just used it very simply with one of Dina's fab stamps.

Tomorrow I have to unearth my winter shoes as flip flops are getting a wee bit chilly, especially in the morning, (bye bye summer see you next year), even put the heating on today, but I, also hoping to mess the desk up again, yes I must admit I tided it up after the tag was done, soz, have a good one everyone. 

October 2011 calendar page . . .

. . .  at last I have done it a personal record to be 9 days behind, on this challenge, time is so hard to find now but I am determined to make it to the end of the year.  This month the background was finger painted with acrylics, I wanted to get the effect of a autumn dusk and then to add the halloween images. So without delay ta dah . . .

and Septembers page completed.

 to see more pages check out Kate's blog The Kathryn Wheel

Taylor is 18

Quick post showing my lovely son Taylor's 18, that I made for his 18th (funny that . . aye), the paper is from his many purchases online from All Saints, (basically if its not from there its just not hip, LOL) its a lovely scripted paper so may have to steal some more for some other art.  Tried to keep it quite simple as he is a very picky boy and I 'm hoping they may stay on display in his bedroom.

here's a little piccie of my little man on his eighteenth, LOL

and here is on his first, (awwww)

much as I moan about my kids, they are both lovely children/men and I am proud of them really.