JoFY Bingo Wk.8

Flowers and christmas! The bingo balls are spoiling me this week with these sets!

March is a busy month for me on the celebration front - lots of birthdays, anniversaries and not forgetting Mother's Day... so I made made some clean and simple cards for this week's project to hopefully get a head start on all those events (that also carry on into April and May too!)..

I made two 'clean and simple' cards using the parcel from JOFY47 - this is a christmas set but I intentionally didn't add anything christmassy on the parcel so that it could be used throughout the year.  I used the stamp with a really simple paper pieced technique which is shown in the photos below...

Stamp the parcel (JOFY47) onto two different types of paper...

Stamp and emboss flowers from JOFY32...

Cut out the two different sections, marry up and glue together.  I also use a coloured pencil to add shadow to the bow to create dimension.

Here's the finished card...

I made a second one using the hexagon background stamp and the 'don't peek' & tag from JOFY47...

I might not send these cards out - might keep them for inspiration- but they've definitely got me thinking...

If you'd like to join in with JoFY Bingo here are the details - I'm going to continue using 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!

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 - 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)

If you don't have an Instagram account you can add your make 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 )

I hope you can join in - I look forward to seeing what you create!

When real flowers aren't allowed....

... you have to find an alternative!

My dad is in hospital at the moment, and the hospital (like a lot of others) doesn't allow real flowers - which seems a shame because they really brighten up a room don't they?!  So, I made him a basket of flowers - JOFY flowers.. seemed appropriate.  So with a flat basket from Hobbycraft, papers from my stash, JOFY stamps and a (Stix2) hot glue gun I made him this:

Happy to say that my Dad loved it.  :o)

All aboard... up Periscope!!

Well this was an exciting day lol... I popped into PaperArtsy - and was sucked into the Vortex that is PaperArsty HQ and didn't escape back out until I'd filmed a Periscope!!!  Baptism of fire!

It was a lot of fun!... brace yourselves - there could be a load more of these heading your way...lol but, one step at a time, here is today's 'scope and photos of the finished projects...


A big shout out (which I meant to do when we were filming) to Courtney who gave me a lovely manicure before I started filming .... ah the magic of television.

So here's a photo of the stamps and projects in progress.. I used one of Kay Carley's new stamp sets - EKC02 - GORGEOUS flower on that set, and JOFY32 for the large cherry blossom flower.

Here are all the different elements laid side by side - fabulous colours - during the demo'. :o)
((And in response to a comment on the 'scope I like to think I 'sweep' the colour from side to side...))

Sorry I couldn't comment, or say hello to you all as you popped up on screen but am very grateful you tuned in.
It was a lot of fun to film, I hope you enjoyed it.

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

Masterboard.... the final!....

After I'd finished my Masterboard projects for the PaperArtsy blog (you can see them HERE), I had one label remaining...

If you read and remember the projects from this masterboard, you'll realise I like to use every last piece.

I didn't want to make another card, I wanted to make something different, and so I thought why not co-ordinate the envelope with the card..

....and keeping it simple I punched hexagons (love!) out of the stickers sheet:

 I  punched 4, selected my 'favourite' and used it as an envelop seal.

I still had lengths of the painted masking tape left over too...

so I used it as decorative strip to write the recipients name onto..

Thats it.. all gone!

x

A sticky variation...

.... but in a good way.

Its my turn over on the PA blog this evening you can go HERE to read it.

I wanted to talk about the above panel.. and the perils of using book text.. I used one of the stickers - painted the flowers and added text.. I painted the text in Dusty Teal to tie in with the Gelli® printed pattern on the background.
When I was finished I covered the back panel of the frame in book text (a 1950/60s book) and attached the sticker.  I smudged around the edge to help it pop off the surface slightly.
I also added a kraft die cut flower and gem to add a bit of sparkle.

This is how I planned for the finished piece to look - without the strip of painted masking tape...

It was all assembled, attached, embellished and ready to be 'admired'... and then I had a final quick read/scan of the text to make sure there was nothing inappropriate before I uploaded it to the blog/web.... and there RIGHT UNDER THE PANEL - was a reeeeeally unacceptable word (imho)!
It  was an 'o m g I'm so glad I spotted that!!' moment. (and don't look for it - I've smudged it out! lol on each photo!)

I looked at it and thought I've invested too much time in the project to just throw it away, so looked around for a rescue.... the masking tape!!  What a happy accident - the tape that was printed/painted as part of the gelli printing process was the perfect addition to hide the word - and of course it matched!
Taaaadaaaa & phew!

So my live and learn lesson from this is:   always remember to have a quick read/scan of a book page before you use it... this is something I always suggest to people in my classes when we're using old books (which, hands up, I totally forgot to do!) - what might've been and an acceptable phrase/term 50/60/70 years ago might not be acceptable now.

It all turned out well in the end.. I hope this has inspired you to gelli print, stamp, paint and use book pages - but always check your book text first!

:o)

Bloom and Grow...

... is a phrase I like, and often use it on projects - it suits my JOFY flower designs.  I used it this past weekend in a workshop for Its Crafting Time.. They have lovely new venue for their creative weekends and pop-up shop - & its a perfect venue for workshops.

I taught 2 classes - cards in the morning (more about those tomorrow) - where we dipped our toes into christmas using the latest JOFY stamps that were released on Saturday.. and in the afternoon we created a hanging triptych...

I LOVE this project!! (its so pretty! lol)

Usually, I take a few photos of the group holding up their lovely projects but this time I forgot - sorry everyone - but I did take some 'work-in-progress' shots - people busy creating the triptychs in lovely colour variations:

I enjoy seeing the different colour variations people create of the same project - a really useful group experience.

l to r: Cathy (different coloured background - created a sort of night/dusk effect), Tanya (lovely bright red flowers (Prawn and London Bus, complete with caterpillar and butterfly) & Cheryl (coming out of her comfort zone and embracing yellow - nicely done!)

It was a day spent laughing, painting, stamping... bit more painting.. is there a nicer way to spend a day??  I don't think so :o)

Thanks to everyone who came along - and to Ann & Cheryl for the yummy snacks (ladies, you are not helping my waistline! lol)

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

The first of many....

.... cards being made this month:

I used the background and butterfly stamp from JOFY32 to create this pretty 13x13cm card:

I stamped out the butterfly several times and coloured the image using the Fibralo felt pens (used as a watercolour ink by scribbling onto the craft sheet, adding a little water and picking the colour up with a paint brush)... it was quite relaxing colouring different variations..

I stamped the background across the panel of card and painted random hexagons in Mermaid, Turquoise, Jade and Snowflake Fresco Finish paints... I stamped the image onto book text, cut out circles and stuck them onto to the corresponding image..

The greeting is from JOFY14..

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

In true 'Blue Peter' stylee....

... 'here's one I made earlier'!   another sample made at the trade show.. & sorry, no sticky-backed plastic on this project.. (do they even make things on Blue Peter any more?? is Blue Peter even ON tv now??) (aaah sigh.. who, as a child of the 60s, 70s, or 80,s didn't make something out of a toilet tube and a soda bottle! ...those were the days... lol)

aaaanyhoo - back to the present day... samples... well just the one sample actually but it comes in to parts.. its a mini concertina book - measures 9x9cm (I'm guessing because I don't have the sample here with me)

Covers are made from chipboard, painted in Slate mixed with Chalk.  I stamped several images from JOFY31:

The scribble circles are such useful stamps (going to be using those A LOT!) and the stitched scallop border... (I love a scallop border!!)

the diamonds, stamped in blue on the background, are from JOFY34 which is a lovely plate with several phrases ideal for journaling and scrapbooking and sized to fit on pocket scrapbooking cards.

The numbers are from this new 'oh-so-useful' Hot Pick stamp set:

and YES, I know the 2 is upside down (I planned it that way!) - that's what makes the covers 'perfectly imperfect'! don't you see its imperfect but perfect too.. get it?! no? ... oh never mind - I was being ironic... no?.. ok,  moving on..

Inside the book is a strip of 4 'pages' of smoothy ombre painted with Southern Skies (?.. or Smurf?), Prawn and Buff - show of hands please: who is LOVING Buff!  I wanted to include as many stamps as possible on this piece but I ran out of time.. the show was almost over... but I think I did quite well - at least 1 image from each of the plates released at the show...

Thanks for stopping by - don't forget Stamperama in on in Stevenage tomorrow - its a great show dedicated to all things stamping - if you're planning to visit have a lovely day.

x

Fun Girl and fun things!....

.... over on the PaperArtsy blog this evening - where I have this cute little project...

oh.. and these new stamps!  Yes - more stamps!  so excited to show you these new sets -  I hope you like them as much as I do. They will be available in PaperArtsy stockists very soon.

JoFY 31

JoFY 32

JoFY 33

JoFY 34