Try it on Tuesday the new challenges begin

Over on Try it on Tuesday we now have a fortnightly challenge with a getting to know you bit in the other weeks. Our new Dt members shared their favourite things last week and now its time for a challenge.

Entitled wonders in watercolour we would like to see any project using watercolour as a medium.

Mines a simple one with limited time for the retreat I watercoloured using distress inks on this fab Paperartsy stamp. Papers are old Stampin up ones which I have only just opened - shame on me!

Our Dt as ever have created some beauties so please stop by and check them out here and with a prize from One stop card crafts

Its definitely worth searching out your watercolours for a little play.

Thanks for stopping by today x

Janet

All about the weekend.......

So the weekend is over - all the planning begins again for the next one!

We had an amazing time with inks, paints, sprays, paste, stolen sand, bits of twigs and leaves, tons of gesso, die cuts, stencils, masks, distress, feathers, lace and a canvas or two.

I will let the pictures do the talking though I do think Alan has forgiven Michelle for stealing his speaker sand.........

Stop by Lovin Ink to see what the wonderful folks made.

Whats happening at the weekend?

This coming weekend its the Lovin' ink residential retreat and we are playing with Canvas - for more stop by the Lovin' Ink blog

Here are a couple of simple things I have been doing.

I have tons of jars around that will "come in" so I decided to have a play at altering this one a little. Its a cranberry sauce jar from Christmas which is a pretty shape.

So with a bit of gesso, some distress ink - a little stamping......

jelly beans and a canvas flower - it does look very different from its pre-Christmassy state!

A few weeks ago I bought some canvas paper from poundland 10 sheets in the pack and come on you know the price lol.

So I had a play with my stampsmith stamps. This was one of the stamps with my prize from the challenge I won last year - Love them!

The canvas paper stamps really well and gives such texture to the image I will definitely buy more. This is a preprinted card blank with just a few additions - very simple - a little like me I suppose LOL.

So if I don't get chance to post - have a great weekend and I will see you on Monday with oodles of pics!

Thanks for stopping by x Janet

News Flash!

I know some of you follow my news as well as my crafting and today is a huge cause of celebration in the Clarke House.

My eldest son, Tom, had an interview last Friday for a research assistant post at Bangor University where he did his degree. This is just what he wants to do and will be a great stepping stone to his next career move to do his Phd.

Competition was tough with many worthy applicants however.......

HE DID IT! He got the job.

We are utterly thrilled and cannot wait to celebrate with him when he returns for the Easter holidays

Hurrah! Well done Tom that's fabulous news!!!

Thanks for stopping by from one very excited Mum!

Favourite things at Try it on Tuesday

Over on Try it on Tuesday there are some changes - the first being to introduce our new Design team members who are showing us some favourite things - could be favourite techniques, could be favourite projects, could be favourite products.

So the rest of us are showing some favourite things too.

Here is mine. I made it last July at the Claxby retreat and still love it very much.

All Tim Holtz products except the lush papers.

Do stop by Try it on Tuesday and find out what all the excitement has been about and also to find more favourite things.

bits and bobs

Yesterday saw Lovin' inks second workshop at Samuel Taylors in Embsay. This was the afternoons project which was re-enforcement of the mornings technique - Layered stamping. The ladies took to it like ducks to water and the stamping nerves were soon overtaken by huge success! More pictures over on the Lovin Ink blog

Next up is the project I did at the class with Clare Rowlands. How lucky were we to play with the fabulous new collection to produce this cute little flag book.

The papers are scrumptious and I forgot to find out who makes them - anyone know??

Love the ticket stamps that Clare has sized just right for the TH ticket die - genius!

Never made a flag book before but I really enjoyed it and would definitely do it again. maybe adding quotes to the flag pages.

as you can see the DP flags were a perfect match to the project - Clare really thought of everything!

Am off to update my sad neglected Christmas blog as I have been preparing for my Christmas classes which begin on 13th March!

Happy Sunday folks and thanks for stopping by!

Rocking my world Friday and Stampman atcs

Its been a better week thank goodness, I dont think I will have far to look for some gratefulness today!

No 1 son had an interview today at his old Uni in Bangor as a research assistant - would be fab if he got the job though he said the competition is tough. Last year when he was out of work he was despondent at not even getting an interview for jobs so I am thrilled that as this is the field he wants to move in he got an interview straight away. He finds out on Monday.

No 2 son says he will only be home for 5 days at Easter which is not a plus (too short a visit :0( )however the reason is, he is so into his dissertation piece of work he wants to get all the fine tuning right long before the deadline - so the planning bit is a plus :0)

Our Megsy has had a good school week. She gets easily worked up about her exams but this weeks has plodded through her work schedule steadily and even stayed after school for extra classes - another forward thinking plan. I am more pleased with the fact she is not stressed though as its one thing our home does not need right now!

At last hubby started on his meds. He has had a more positive week which is very good.

I feel a family group ahhh hug coming on ((((((hug)))))).

I had a brilliant day on Wednesday at The Craft Range in Burnley doing a Molly Blooms class. The last few months Mum and I have travelled to Hapton treating ourselves to this indulgence. Sadly I am working the next 2 sessions but this time playing with these cuties has been very precious as has crafting time with Mum. Mum treated me to lunch as I did not have to rush back to work which was fab x Thanks Mum x

Work has been particularly stressful the last month - procedure changes, staff sickness and an ofsted inspection does not make for a good mix however this week has felt better. I had a lovely shift last night/ this morning and as one young person hugged me before he left for school (he is autistic) it left a warm feeling, which I rather like, about work - sigh if only every day was like that!

Today I visited Kanban Crafts in Shipley with a retired work chum. Just the outlet store to stock up on basics like white and black cardstock. Jacci had never been before - The girls on the bacon butty van waved as I drove past them (its near the factory and they make the best bacon butty around) I felt guilty as we were going somewhere else for lunch yet secretly thrilled they even recognised me!. You can see where we went here

A good old Yorkshire bap sandwich and a cream scone - yummy...... back to healthy eating tomorrow!!

Lovely spending time chatting for no reason about anything that cropped up - it felt very indulgent and special.

So thats my grateful list for this week - along with blue skies, payday and fabulous email pals.

It was also a fab and funny week here. Honestly the ladies have had me laughing all week - thank goodness its back to crafting again today but for how long???

Do stop by the Queen of the Rockettes where thankful is the name of a very positive day!

On the down side I totally forgot the Stampman atc swap with the preparation for the retreat occupying my days off but on the plus side my awesome team mate Brenda stepped in at the last minute and helped me out - Thanks so much Brenda I really appreciate your help.

So here are my atcs for the March swap on Hopes and dreams.

The 3 together

close up of No 1 with Tim Holtz stamps

No 2 - thats a fab collage stamp from Hero Arts isn't it!!!

and number 3 with Stampendous!

Fabulous stamps so if you are ready to spoil yourself get over to The Stamp Man where the sale ends next week!!!

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by today xx

Janet