I would have got these sent off for the Clarity Stamp shows on Create and Craft today but I didn’t get chance because I was booked to go to the Lake District just as I had finished them. And truth be told I felt they weren’t up to scratch yet.

BUT I did enjoy playing with these stamps. I have missed so many shows but am getting there. I was thinking about why I enjoyed crafting in the first place. Well, there are lots of reasons but one of those reasons is that it takes your mind to another place.

Talking about Another Place!! A few of my fellow DT Members and Clarity Demonstrators will recognise this set of Cottages. We have stayed here a few times. It used to be owned by Lucy Pittaway’s Mam and Dad. I assume she lived there herself growing up. Well I spotted this Print of a Picture she had done of the Parents Place in the Lakes. Now, my Nephew happens to know the owners who took over a little while ago, and he is a very clever Carpenter by trade who now has his own Kitchen fitting business, all made to measure.

Anyway my Nephew re-fitted all the cottages here, they are lovely. They always were but are even better now. So, in the Lakes I was looking at Static Caravans because I am not sure if I can keep my own Caravan, its a lot of work for one, I remember the day we bought it so well, me and Paul either end of the interior both put our thumbs up at the same time through the crowd in the middle of us. Our Perfect Caravan. We used to do these holidays as a family, I am pretty sure I can tow the Caravan but with my new found ageing body I am not sure I can do all the other bits that come with it., the Jobs Paul used to do. Caravans are only a relaxing holiday after you and your partner have put in all the hard graft to get it set up etc. You don’t see many people doing it alone.

Clean it, pack it, tow it, set up, add awning, fill water, make beds, etc etc and then in reverse at the end! Then in the middle you have to empty the loo, fill the water, empty the waste water, throw all the kids shoes back in the corner so you don’t trip over them on the way into the awning – you know, that kind of Graft! But it is lovely to be able to get together with so many friends and family all at once. Its sad not going with Paul any more, more than Sad! but we have lots of lovely memories there with him and I see him in the Caravan and cry every time I sit in it – Our Retirement Holidays are all lost. But it gives me and the kids comfort too.

So, back to the Static Caravan – blimey I knew they were expensive but….. they offered me one for £40,000 good price till she said, but after three years you will have to buy a new one because after 10 to 15 years old they are not allowed on site!!!!! So the one on offer was nearly out of date! But, she said, you will have your place in the lakes on a site that is perfect and next to where all my friends and some family members would be staying on their cheap holiday in their touring caravans in the Lakes. Same experience totally different price tag.

The good news is Lucy Pittaway has a Caravan there apparently and I am a bit of a Fan! See where the connection came in with the Print and the Cottage etc. I think Lucy is my fan actually because she lives and holidays in the same places as me!!!!!! Ha ha

Anyway, going to book myself on one of those Caravan towing courses and take the kids with me to put up the Awning!

So, on this occasion I stayed in a Hotel in Keswick, very expensive but not so bad when you share with a friend. You might know her, she works for Clarity. Jilly Clifton. We had a lovely time and being around Jilly and going to the Pencil Factory with a fellow crafter, got me wanting to get my paints out even more. So when we got home I quickly made another three cards for the next show. But I can’t show you them till next week. I can assure you, they are an improvement on these I am showing.

I must say they made lovely Lemonade in the Hotel. Xxx

Skye was pretty impressed with the room and the doggy Sausages at Breakfast.

I say the next set of samples are better because I know I could have gone a lot further with these stamps if I hadn’t let myself get bogged down with one idea in the first place. I should have done what I tell other people to do, craft like no-one is ever going to see what you make.

I did secondary stamping here so the Blue Ink would seep through the black to give it a screen print type of look.

I made this with Note Cards in mind, I would generally make a batch of them for my Handbag, or to put in a diary or Journal with notes on.

Inside the Notelets I like to draw my own writing lines. But you could just do this as a Card too, makes for a more interesting opening.

I just played with the Stamps to make a backing paper on the Clarity coloured papers, then made a tag top to balance it out. Not sure about the finished result, Note to self, have a thought for what is going on top to finish before randomly stamping without thought for finished effect.

This little Heart Stamp was one of my favourites out of the set, I just couldn’t leave it along.

This was a nice card to make, just nice grungy stamping – its easy when the Stamps give you the message themselves.

There is that Heart again. I used the frames and patterns to fill the background though, again making a backing paper with the Clarity colour papers and then deciding how to finish it. See I would have this in a Journal with a folding tag or something on top, or decorate a bag or box with it. Then when I actually intended to make a matching card, I would leave a space in the middle for the Best wishes.

So thats it for now. I am going to get my cards posted for Next Weeks shows then I need to clear my conservatory to pack up my Kitchen, getting a new one soon, I need something pretty to look at during the winter months so Retro it is!!!!! do you want a sneak peak? Oh gowarn then you have twisted my arm.

Above is my Tea and Sandwhich area – of course a Northerner would have a special place to make Sarnies!!!

All designed by me, even though the Guy at WREN is trying to take credit for the Red, the layout and design, Nope I designed it, he just made it fit. But I bit my tongue I didn’t want to embarrass him in front of his work colleagues!! Even though he also took credit for the Toaster, which the Designer who left half way through had put in the picture! You will either love it or hate it, but what matters is what I think. Well, lets see if I need Sun Glasses once its fitted!!!! Then I will answer that question.

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See you soon

Sam Crowe – Clarity DT Member