Birthdays birthdays........

So glad the last card reached its destination

Happy Birthday Neil Hope you have a fabulous day!

This card is for a family friend who has a heart of gold. This time I played with a stamp set from Pink Paislee called London Market. I found this at the show last weekend so its a perfect opportunity to ink up and play. I have been asked to do something for the Golden Jubilee - a class/ craft get together so I have been gathering ideas to do that - this set is part of the cunning plan along with this set by artemio!

I have of course used distress inks for the background, wild honey, broken china, and dusty concord - but then with the influence of Mr Holtz in my ear I have used my unloved coloured archival inks to create the layered stamping.

The bird is from a Kaisercraft set which I stamped in black archival then watercoloured with distress - see my fellow creative chemistry classmates I have taken on board the properties to use the inks properly .

So this is a weekend at work for me - a sleep over duty on the day the clocks go forward which means an hour less of sleep as I will still have to get up at the new time of 6-30am for my morning shift - yikes.

Me thinks I will be curled up on the sofa as soon as I finish at 3pm tomorrow!

Right off to bake a birthday cake before I start work this afternoon.

Have a creative weekend folks xx

Janet

So what has Timmy inspired me to do?

First let me explain Timmy is an affectionate not derogatory term - My hubby is called Tim and is known as Timmy when we are having a bit of a laugh together. I would like to think would have a bit of a laugh with Mr Holtz should I ever get to craft with him and hey I'm doing that everyday for the next 2 weeks!

This was one of yesterday lessons which I have wanted to do for ages now.

Reflections stamps and embossing folders. Now the only ones I had suitable were the atc size ones so that's what I played with. The only reflections stamps I had were seasonal ones (Christmas card ladies this will be on the list now!!!) which thankfully had this fab music stamp in it.

A trusty blending tool and distress inks and here it is!

I made it into a card for some fab dinky envelopes I bought at the show and thought

Why not stamp and ink the envelope too? I am back in love with my blending tool after being so lost for inspiration I just cant wait to play!

Here they are together - this will be plopping through someone's door very soon - wonder who that will be???

Messy, inky fun there is nothing quite like it!!!

Hope you are having crafty fun this week too!

Tims Online class

Wow I am blown away!

This class is just what I needed to boost my creativity - not just how to do something but why some things work in certain ways ie the whole chemistry behind it.

I was lucky to meet Dy Reaveley early on in my crafting journey who set me on the path of Ranger products and certainly gave me lots of techniques to play around with. Her classes are full of transferable information not just learning to do one thing and I do feel very privileged to have been set on this path so early on in my papercrafting life.

(she is also responsible for my now very serious stamp addiction - the dotty flower has a lots to answer for.....)

Now to have the access to another awesome instructor is brilliant and I am loving the teaching style so much. Technique based transferable skills that keep the stamping fresh and revitalise my interest in distress inks are perfect for me just now.

The videos are so detailed, the handouts perfect accessories and the insight into the way distress started have held me captivated.

Its still not too late to join in - the videos will be able to be viewed over and over again - an online forum for questions to be asked and answered by Tim Holtz - a place to share art work and ideas is an amazing tool.

Do stop by here for more info - you will not be disappointed!

Happy Mothers day!

This is the card I made for my Mum. A few weeks ago I saw these stamps being sold second hand - I have now seen they are by Joanna Sheen. They so reminded me of childhood holidays in Filey and we have a pic of my brother toddling to the sea just like this one.

Ive used quite strong colours because of the background papers but I think they would look fab watercoloured.

Happy Mothers day Mum xx

(just noticed the Mum is wonky but as they are held on with brads I can adjust it - phew)

Off to Harrogate show today - Hope there is stuff left!

Meeting my pals Georgina and Liz and her daughter Anna so a good day all round me thinks!

Happy Mothers day to you too xx

Janet

Rocking my World Friday

So its Friday again and time to share what has rocked my world this week.

Last week saw another Lovin' ink retreat - which seriously has to be top of the list. I don't often add stuff before my family but honestly the time with our retreaters is amazingly special.

The pictures speak for themselves really and can be found here.

Each person embraced the ideas and experimented with their own which is an utter delight to see. Their pride in their projects shines from them.

Other delights from the weekend were Siobhans shortbread, Lindas chocs, Vikkis cakes and Phillipes fruit pies - poor Emma didnt get a sniff at them they were so popular!

An amazing weekend.

Next has to be meeting up with my lovely pals Jo and Georgina who could not make the retreat but came to Embsay for a play on Monday which was fun.

Georgina is the kindest sweetest Lady and I feel so lucky to have met her. Do stop by and say hello here.

Tuesday and Wednesday were not that cracking to be honest - tiredness from the retreat and the comedown from the high hit me hard but I did manage a little creativity and a debrief about the weekend with Michelle where plans for next March are now developing........

My Cousin Steph did call for a cuppa - she is the one who was ill a few weeks ago. Well thank goodness she is on the mend. Having been told she had 3 days to live without the op to have a stoma fitted she is looking great. She said she has been fighting depression off and trying to remain positive is hard but she did look amazing and just goes to show how ill she was before without any of us knowing.

Yesterday was a work day and Megsy went to see the dietician alone for the first time. I was thrilled when she told me they have come up with a plan to exercise and have breakfast which Megs feels able to achieve - I so want her to feel in control. (For those of you who dont know she has Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome which was diagnosed last year.) I was pleased my perseverance with the dietician had helped her as both the consultant and our GP thought healthy eating would be enough but it really is food types that will help and the dietician is obviously connecting well with her to empower her with her future.

That was a brilliant plus this week.

This arrived today - Megsy and I have been waiting all week for it so snuggled down to watch it tonight

Even though we saw it at the cinema it was still fabulous to watch and has made us eager to see the Part 2 as soon as it comes out.

Bellas eyes are the last thing you see as the film ends and she becomes a stunning Vampire

We loved it!

So thats my week right up until tonight.

Hope you can find lots to be thankful for - do stop by The Celtic House where Virginia hosts the most positive weekly experience for life not just for Craft.

April Classes with Lovin' Ink

The next workshops for Lovin' Ink are based around all your own work so we will be making our own designer papers .

My samples are bold and bright - Michelle is working on much more muted colours so they choice will be yours.

Dates for this workshop are:-

Samuel Taylors - Embsay on Saturday 7th April 10am-4pm to book click here

and Craft Range, Burnley 14th April 10-30am - 4-30pm to book click here

Hope to see you there x

Janet

Creativity boost.

http://www.onlinecardclasses.com/timholtz/class-info

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I am excited to have joined up to do Tims online class and am looking forward to learning and being inspired by him.

I was lucky to meet Dyan Reaveley early on in my crafting journey and she set me on the right path with lots of Ranger products. I love my distress inks and stamps and hope to learn new techniques to inspire me to be creative with them.

So the classes begin next Monday I can't wait!

Will I see you there I wonder???