New Stamps - Jo Capper Sandon's

I haven't been able to do any crafting - but today I did get more inspiration from the famous JCP

Firstly I received more of the stamps I ordered from Happy Daze (big link on the right hand side bar)
I am not 'just saying it' - but truly, the service from Moira is absolutely amazing.  I think that when you have your own company, and enjoy crafting too, you  have an understanding  and go 'that extra mile' to ensure that orders etc go out asap - especially when they come from overseas.  Thank you Moira.

So here's what arrived today.

I even cleared out a draw for them all to have their own space!

(I have room for a few more Jo if you get the creating rubber urge again)

 

It is going to be such a joy to create work having the right stamps for a change.  I know it shouldn't matter, but it gives me more confidence if I can start by having inspiration with the same stamps first, then once I get the hang of using them  -  I can create something in my 'own' style

Talking of which, I have been studying Jo's blog and have had a go at trying to take a better photo of my work.  Here is my first attempt.

 

I think it is an improvement on the previous photo of this tag

 

The idea was good - but didn't quite work - the proportions were all wrong.  I wanted to make the wooden shroom look like a shadow of the tag shroom.

If anyone has sent me something by Recorded Delivery - the postman came today - but stupid, stupid man stuck a card through the door, so I won't get it until Saturday now.

My lovely post lady Karen is on holiday this week, and she knows that I can't always hear the doorbell even though it is one of those you can plug in any room.  If she was delivering it, and I didn't go to the door, she would have seen all the windows wide open, noticed the car and trailer on my drive with work tools in and put two and two together thinking 'Ah Lottie is in, but out of ear shot of her bell.  There are obviously work men in the garden, so I'll shout or bang on the gate'.   Logical for us women isn't it....but NOT for a postman - who shoved all the other mail through the letterbox, stood and filled out the flipping card, and put that through too.  It would have been so much quicker to bang on the gate - he would have heard the men talking.

Ah well - I'll have something to look forward to  on Saturday now won't I.

Not been able to craft - won't bore you with the details, but Saturday or Sunday I hope to get going again.

Hmmmm    I wonder whose stamps I will use?

Oh I must just say this - I noticed that all JCP's stamps have her name on them - how cool is that huh?  Wouldn't you just love to have a stamp with your same on it - going all over the world, being bought by all sorts of people?     I know I would  - off to dream of world fame!

Wow - You'll never guess - I am a WINNER!

You could have knocked me down with a feather when the postman brought a letter all the way from the USA addressed to me!

Thank  you to the incredibly kind - and talented Roni of Ink Stains  click the link to see the fantastic Steampunk style pendant I have won in her 400th follower blog giveaway.

It is every bit of lusciousness as it looks, and I am going to wear it with pride to college tomorrow to show it off.

Thank you so very much Roni - I have emailed you.

xx

Beautiful - but is it art?

It was just getting dark when we looked out our patio door from the lounge and spotted this hot air balloon

We almost had a visitor in our garden.  It flew over our garden then over our neighbours roof.

The pigeon seemed rather non-plussed

It was a beautiful sight

Off it flew with a whoosh and a whisper

It's Official - I am/was the first.

The last time I was the 'first' at anything of 'significance' was when I used to come first in the Parents Race at my sons school Sports Days - 30+ years ago.  They used to be very proud of me winning the races - especially as it meant they got to share the winnings - a bag of sweets or lollipops.

Before that it was when I was at senior school - when I used to win the races, high jump, long jump and hurdles!  (I learned to run and jump and climb at a very early age - being skinny, shy, wearing glasses and 'blessed' with titian hair,and freckles, it was of the utmost importance for 'survival' LOL)

So you can imagine my delight, that yesterday at the ripe old age of 60+ to learn that I was the first person in the United Kingdom to receive my Jo Capper Sandon designed stamps, and to blog them.

Just a bit of silliness to make you smile - as  I have visitors this weekend - and won't be able to have time to use the rest of them or to blog them.

Gosh - I was the first - fancy that - can you see my silly grin - it'll last all day?

It's a giant schroom

I just couldn't wait to use my new stamps from Jo's Stampotique collection - which I bought from Moira's Happy Daze.    They didn't arrive until this afternoon - and I really should not have spent any time in my studio - but I just HAD  too.

On Jo's blog she has used this large schroom stamp - and it looks absolutely delightful on her project  - go and have a look.

I was on 'borrowed' time when I made this tag - I should have been making our tea.

I couldn't reproduce her fantastic double tag card - but I could just play to get the feel of the stamp.

I used a tag with K&Co paper on top.  As usual  it looks much better in real life.

I also used the free stamp from this months Craft Stamper magazine, and the mini bee from Jo's collection.

(I only made the one tag - but cos the light was so bad, I tried taking a photo on two different backgrounds.)

I will spend more time next week playing with them - I just need to get an ink pad or two.  The stamps are lovely to use as they are mounted on lovely thick and rounded wood.  They stamp really clearly too.  Most of my stamps are unmounted, and I do struggle at times to get a clear stamped image - usually resorting to standing on them (on the floor, I'm too old to do that on my craft table - in case some of you have over active imaginations!)  But these stamps are a joy to use - and I will definitely be getting some more of them.

Even Silence Speaks

My Jo Capper - Sandon designed stamps from Happy Daze arrived this afternoon!  They are the very first Stampotique stamps I have bought - and I am so thrilled that I did.

I would love to have bought the whole set - well who wouldn't huh?  But the ones I don't have will have to wait for a month or two.

I bought the quote as it is very special to me, as I am sure it will be for  many others.  It speaks volumes and can be used for many occasions.

So is Jo's other quote - that's on my 'wish list'

Please don't compare this with Jo's - there is no comparison (I can only dream!)

The colours are more vibrant in real life.  I painted with inks directly onto the card,  which gives the effect of layers of grass, rather than a solid block of greens.  The sky was done the same way.   I forgot to do the sun - doh - never mind, I am sure that I will be using these stamps a lot.

I would love to have made mine as professional looking as Jo's - with layers of card matting etc - but I am no way near that standard, nor have the selection of stash to do it justice.

For now, I am just so happy to be the beautiful young girl, daydreaming in a meadow, surrounded by daisies, with a beautiful honey bee collecting pollen.

Thank you Jo for the inspriration you have given me with these stamps - even if I did 'copy' in part your layout!

And thank you to Moira of Happy Daze for sending out the stamps, carefully packaged.

More creations will follow next week.  We have family staying this weekend.

Butterflies - oh how I just love butterflies

When I went into the EACH charity shop last Wednesday as I usually do, I was looking around and the lady there said, 'Oh hello, you're the bag lady aren't you.'  It really made me smile.  She meant of course that I am the lady who decorates bags - rather than one who lives out of bags!

I have made two like this - not identical.  The image comes from a greetings card, painted by a lady in our Lipreading class - who paints stunning watercolours and has them printed onto cards.

Our tutor is retiring at the end of the summer term, and I suggested a bag as one of her presents - using Dawn's artwork.   I used a different method of image transfer - and it took a bit of getting used too.  The image didn't turn out as bright as I would have liked - so not true to her painting - so  I spent a couple of hours painting over it with acrylic paints and alcohol inks.

It positively glows now, and close up you can see, and feel the textures of the paints.

I will get everyone to sign the butterfly card and pop it in the bag

I hope that she will like it!