Daddy Fun

December, what fast year 2012 has been .... It has simply flown at a rate of knots & for me personally saw a lot of events crammed into it. One of which was the launch of The Cupboard Trilogy challenge blog, which yesterday saw the start of a new challenge called "Frosty Winter"  below is the LO that I created as a DT example.

There is still a lot of my craft materials in storage boxes, that I can't really unpack until I have somewhere specific to stash it, I intend to buy some designated storage cupboards in the New Year, so I am still only able to use what I can get too!

Anyway, for my LO I chose to use a Sketch (I will add the name when I remember where I found it ooops) I have used Bazzill Cardstock,  Patterned  Paper left overs, Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Jewels in 'Iced Crystal'  Dew Drops Ink in 'Platinum Planet, Blonde Moments Festive Pearls in 'Gold Lustre' & Alpha's by Crate Paper & my trusty black pen!

This is Mason my grandson 3 years ago having some giggly fun with his Daddy, youngest son. Mason is getting such a big boy now, I had forgotten that he looked like this, he was a podgy little bundle of joy :)

Thank you for visiting , please leave a comment I always try to return the favour 

~ Jane ~

Such a long absense ...

Well, there has been so much going on in my home life just now, that my crafting has taken a very back seat.

I moved home 3 weeks ago into my little one bedroom flat, I needed to down size do to my relationship breaking down. It was a mutual decision & we remain good friends, he comes back now & again for his fix of my roast dinner :)

I needed to move because of the new 'spare bedroom tax' & also to move into a town, so that I has most things I need on my doorstep. I loved the location of my previous home, but being a non driver I was very isolated. So to remain independent I needed to move.

I love where I live now, the town is very small & it's somewhere that I have known all my life so familiar to me. I am slowly getting sorted & finally back to so crafting again. I completed my part in 2 circle journals [aka C J's] today, but I can't show them yet because it wouldn't be fair on the C J owners!

My journal in this round is called  'Patterns of Life' I found it a bit of a struggle o produce with limited craft supplies to hand [mine was packed away in boxes] but, I am quite happy with the finished journal, tomorrow it will be on it's way to the next player & I won't see it again for some weeks!

I chose to write a poem to put in my C J & here it is

Patterns are everywhere, just look & you'll see

The brocade on your curtains, stripes on a bee

Pyjama's in the morning, find paisley there

Foliage in the garden, the leather on your chair!

Even love has it's patterns, changing seasons too

Walk down the road a bit to look for what's new

Feather's on birds, falling leaves from the tree's

Postage stamps, butterflies, just look & you'll see!

Just open your eye's & take time, like me

Because sometimes we look , but don't really see

The swirls on your coffee cup, or lines on your ledger

Those patterns of life are there to give us all pleasure!

~ author - Jane Songhurst ~

Slowly, my craft supplies are coming out of their packing boxes & I will be back to crafting again, blogging what I make & blog hopping to find hidden treasures as well as revisiting my loyal followers & joining in with all the amazing challenges that are out there in blog land.

Talking of blogs, please head over to The Cupboard Trilogy there is still time to take part in this months prize challenge

Quick Digi LO

This is my DT  Scrapbook page for the Happy Scrappers challenge blog, this months theme is Pets/Animals. I am still restricted to digital work because most of my craft stash is packed away in boxes in preparation for my house move on 27th October. I can hardly wait to get all my stuff out & sorted so that I can start getting inky & gluey again.

Meet Elmo & his Mum Maggie in their paddock, Elmo was born on a very cold night about 6 months ago. My daughter in law Caroline had been observing closely for 2 weeks prior to his expectant birth for any signs that it was near. However, she fell asleep earlier this evening, my son came home around 11pm after work & just took a peek in the stable to make sure Maggie was OK & saw that little Elmo had been born already & Maggie was being a good mum knew exactly what to do & managed by herself.

I think Elmo is about 2 weeks old in this photograph & just look at his beautiful flaxon tail, he is a very handsome boy 

Thank you for stopping by, please leave a comment & I will visit your blog in return.

~ Jane ~

Don't blame the older generation, because it simply isn't true.!

I have amended this a little bit, because it was written in the American style & I can't pass these off as my words. The author to my knowledge is unknown. 

I am old enough to remember all of these things, including hand washing my twin sons nappies!

Being Green

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman, that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days."

The young clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then all we did was,  return glass milk bottles, soda/fizzy pop bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were truely recycled.

But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags, that we reused for numerous things, most memorable besides household garbage bags, was the use of brown paper bags as book covers for our school books. This was to ensure that public property, the books provided for our use by the school, were not damaged by our scribblings and doodles, as we personalised our books on those old paper bags, so they could be past on the to kids below us.

But too bad we didn't do the green thing back then.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But, was she right? Didn't we have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's nappies/diapers because we didn't have the throwaway kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that young lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the Olympic Stadium. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not polystyrene nuggets or plastic bubble wrap. Nor, did we fire up an engine and burn petrol, just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But hey what do we know, because we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the bus or other public transport and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service.
We had just the one electrical socket in a room, not an entire bank of them to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerised gadgets to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space, in order to find the nearest take away.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were, just because we didn't have the green thing back then? 

We didn't call it by a name, but it was a way of life and all we knew ..... Life seemed so much simpler back then!

Next time your about to cast the blame, think back to this post and wonder is there really anyone to blame or is it just a natural progression in life & knowledge!

~ Jane ~

I Am So Proud To Have Been Chosen .....

... As Guest blogger over on the Crafty Bloggers Network this week, it normally takes place on a Wednesday, but due to technical issues this week it was uploaded late, probably something to do with all the thunder storms sweeping the country this week.

The blog is a fabulous resource for inspiration,not only from thier own DT, but they have interviews with craft celebrities, challenges to take part in, tutorials & crafters everywhere.

If you are not a part of the Crafty Bloggers Network,then please do pop over & take a look, it really is a good read. They also have thier own Facebook Group, where friendly crafters are in abundance eager to share thier blogs & visit yours too. So, where you are looking to visit craft blogs or need to direct more traffic to your own blog, then this is the place for you. You can find them on Facebook HERE & you would be make very welcome to join us.

So on to my card,for some reason I found this very difficult to photogragh & edit to get a good light on it, wether it's the colour mixes or what I don't know but the photo does it no real justice, so I apologise!

I also have limited resources available to play with, because most of my craft supplies are boxed up ready for an pending house move,I can't wait to unpack it all again & start organising it & get back to having it all available to me again!

You will also notice that I haven't added a greeting or sentiment to the card, this is quite normal for me because I add it when I know who will receive it & for what occasion.

I have used 3 colours of my favourite craft staple, Bazzill Basics Cardstock in Melon, Chiffon & Frosted, plus my newest Marianne cutting die called Anja's Quadrant, I have used 3 of this is a 5 piece set of dies on my card, along with the sheer ribbon & embellishments from my tote.

If you would like to read my 'Introduction of Me' you can read it HERE please pop over & give me a little support.

As always thank you for dropping by my blog, please leave a comment to let me know that you stopped by, so that I can return the favour & visit you in return.

~ Jane ~

Design Team Call .....

Over on The Cupboard Trilogy challenge blog, this time we are looking for Cardmakers only.

The DT Call is open to everyone, we have a good mix of DT members which include beginners, seasoned & more expert crafters. It is open for both UK & International applicants & you will all be treated the same & given the same opportunities. I also like to take on at least one crafter that has yet to be on a Design Team, giving them a foot on the ladder so to speak.
So if you have never had the courage to put yourself forward before, please do apply, if chosen you will soon feel at home in our friendly team!

Don't forget to enter this months challenge as well,for your change to win a fabulous prize!

~ Jane ~

DT share

It's the 1st Saturday of the month & a new challenge has started over on The Happy Scrappers challenge blog. There are no prizes offered for thier challenges but, they offer great inspiration & if you love scrapbooking & enjoy following prompts then pop over & have a look.

Here is the LO I made as this months DT example 

This months prompt is SPORTS

I used one of my digi kits from Daisytrail to create this LO because most of my craft materials are packed away waiting for my house move in a few weeks time. As soon as my stash is out of the packing boxes I will be recreating this LO because I do like it & want it in Masons album!
This is my grandson in his very 1st Football Kit ... Arsenal of coarse!

Don't you just love those cute little socks, I dare say he will be having quite a few kits as he grows up because he is as football mad as his Daddy already & he is only 3 years old [almost]
Thanks for visiting my blog today

~ Jane ~

It's The 1st Saturday Of The Month ....

Which means that a new challenge has launched over on The Happy Scrappers challenge blog. This months challenges prompt is Birthdays/Celebrations, the DT including myself produced some lovely Scrapbook Layouts as examples, so now I can show you the one that I made!

This photograph was taken almost a year ago now on my grandson Mason's 2nd birthday, & I can still almost hear my son Paul saying to him
"Blow like this Mason, blow your candles out"
The Elmo cake that my son made tasted really nice, even if I did have a surprise when I was handed a slice of Red & Blue coloured marble cake. Why does it always feel so odd when we eat anything coloured blue!?!

Although my LO looks like it is set in a frame it isn't, it's actually part of the paper! I wanted to create the look of a pin/notice board for my LO for a more casual look & think I managed it. It really was very simple to put together with just a few scraps from my 'oddments' box. The only thing that was taken from a new packet are the American Craft 'Thickers' which I used for the word Mason & the number 2. The little cupcake embellishment I made myself with some pieces cut from a scrap of patterned paper & built it up in 3 layers so hat it stands proud from the page. Other than that it's just more patterned paper. 

I am happy with the finished result....

Thank you for visiting today

~ Jane ~

Hey I gave it a try ...

Digi scrapping I mean, as you may or may not know already, I now have my own monthly challenge blog, that launched last Saturday called The Cupboard Trilogy 

Well, the challenges are for cardmakers, scrapbookers & digi scrappers, anyway, the card & scrap Design Teams produced not only fabulous cards & scrapbook LO's, but they decided to have a play with digi scrapping as well, to boost the DT input [because we only have 2 people in the dedicated digi team at the moment]

Anyway, they were making it look so easy that I thought "Hey, I'll give it a try too" so I did. Further down my blog page you can see my very 1st attempt, which is nice but very plain & simple.

Then I thought I would create a digi using the Colour Chart prompt, which is the theme for this months TCT challenge!

This is my 15yr old stepdaugher Daisy during her 1st professional photo shoot. She was pleased with the photos taken so much that at long last she is actually seeing for herself how pretty her beautiful red hair. Until this photo was taken she like many girls & women just wanted to dye it a different colour, I think now she is thinking differently!

It's still a very simple design, I haven't worked out how to get anymore technical at creating layers ect. but, in truth I am not sure I will bother,because although I am finding it a fun thing to do, for me personally it can never take the place of cardstock & glue :)

Thank you for visiting today, I really do appreciate it & I read all comments & try to visit your blog in return :)

~ Jane~

[we are still looking for digi scrappers to join the team, message below if interested]

A quickie birthday card .....

For a very special little boy, Logan my youngest Grandson just turned 2 yrs old. He is a real motorhead already & anything with an engine is fair game, especially if it happens to be his Daddy's fire engine or quad bike. If it doesn't have an engine then anything with wheels is a good substitute, he actually loves going cycling with his Mummy saying "hello" from his back seat to everyone that he passes by. Just like his own Daddy as a child, his social skills are very strong, he loves to pass the time chattering to anyone that will take a minute to listen to him :)

So, this is the card I made for him. 

The image, which I coloured using promarkers is a Sugar Nellie stamp called ' Little Farmer'  The cardstock & papers were just plucked from my 'can't throw that away' holder & 3 bits of card candy!

Thank you for visiting my blog

~ Jane ~

x

              Entered into the following challenges
  http://www.craftybloggersnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/ ~ Anything Goes
 http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/ ~ Anything Goes
   http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ ~ Polka Dots with a Birthday Theme      

                                                          

Today's The Day ....

The Cupboard Trilogy challenges went live today, you have 3 chances to win the lovely prize by entering with a card, scrapbook page or a digi scrapped page, maybe you would like to enter all 3!

There will be an overall winner who will win the prize offered & a 3 lucky people [1 for each genre] will get to win the DT Top Pix badge on thier blog!

So, please grab the badge from the challenge blog & help us spread the word & get crafting!

Here is the Scrapbook LO that I created to add to the Design Team projects. The photos are of my daughter in law, just after the birth of my grandaughter Yasmin. I decided not to add a title to the LO because I think the photographs speak for themselves .... Nothing is so deep as a Mother's Love!

 Thank you for visiting my blog today, please leave a comment & come back soon

~ Jane ~

Quick, Quick, Quick ....

Less than 24 hours now ....

Until the launch of The Cupboard Trilogy challenges & I am offering just one last chance to get a freebie aka as Blog Candy!

To get your hands on it simply follow the 3 simple steps

[1] Grab the TCT challenge blog Badge & display it on your own blog linking back here

[2] Post on your blog to announce tomorrows launch

[3] Leave a comment in the box below & become a follower!

Please Note: This candy expires at 11pm GMT Tonight

 

The Cupboard Trilogy challenge blog

The final blog Candy is this wonderful papercrafting kit

 *Thank you for playing along & good luck*

~ Jane ~

I took the plunge .....

And tried my hand at digi scrapping, I was curious to see if I could do it really. I don't think I would ever be very proficient at creating some of the beautiful digi scrapped pages that really look 3D, but it is kind of fun. It could never replace paper & glue for me, but I do feel it will have it's place in my crafting life, especially on the days when my health prevents me from indulging in my papercrafting.

So, here is my very 1st attempt

The photograph is my son & grandson on little Mason's 2nd birthday.

Don't you just love his Elmo cake, it tasted as good as it looked too even if I was suprised to see a slice of red & blue marbled sponge cake presented to me. It was really quite surreal eating red & blue cake that tasted of chocolate *laughs*

                                                              Thank you for dropping by

                                                                              ~ Jane ~

Update ...

Well, I have been crafting but I can't show you what I have made yet because it's all DT work. Not too long to wait now though, because the 2 DTs that I've been preparing for The Happy Scrappers & my own challenge blog The Craft Trilogy [which launches 1st July] are nearly due!

Back on 15th June I celebrated yet another birthday, I am not big on my own birthdays really, but I wa thrilled to bits to log into Facebook that day to see that an online friend Alison Paterson, had created a digital scrapbooking page for me. I loved it so much that I thought I would share it with you. I don't think Alison has a blog so I can't link to her!

Oh my gosh ....

I'm so excited, I have just set up my own craft challenge blog called 

The Cupboard Trilogy

I've selected a great Design Team [DT] & we are all on track for the launch on 1st July. I say a DT, but technically the team is split into 3 groups .. Cardmaking, Scrapbooking & Digi Scrapping, so hopefully there will be something for everyone!

There will be a prize each month for the over all winner, then there will be a 'DT Top Pix' badge awarded to each of the sections, chosen by the appropriate Design Team to post on your own blog!

I am looking for sponsers of the blog at the moment & looking for each of the genres of design, so if your looking in & you can supply a prize for Cardmakers, Scrapbookers or Digi Scrappers, please contact me on my profile page, I would be most appreciative!

I will update here nearer the time of the launch, I have my birthday to get through first, 52 this year, where on earth does the time go??!

Have a great day

~ Jane ~

It's The 1st Saturday Of The Month ....

Which means The Happy Scrappers have set a new challenge, this month the theme is

The Great Outdoors

Here is my DT Layout

The photos are of my grandson playing in the garden, he is a whopping 14 years old now soit was lovely scrapping these photos, I remember this little photo shoot like it was yesterday!

I wanted to keep the LO quite simple & fun, so I used blocks of cardstock in black, lime green,orange & blue. The paper used {which I cut to pieces} is from one of Fancy Pants older collections called "On a Whimsey"  The butterfly & trail were hand cut from one of the papers & stick to the page at varying depths, to add some extra detail, I cut up another sheet to use as quote blocks between the photographs. I have added little extra's like the little bird & teh word 'memories' which is on a piece of acetate & added a little doodling around the butterfly trail!

Altogether, it was a quick, but effective LO with the paper piecing technique keeping the feel of it a bit rustic & childlike to suit the mood of the photos!

My Top Tip ~ When adding embellishments, glue them down at differing heights, this adds extra interest to your LO. There are lots of glue items on the market to allow you to do this including 'sticky dots' double sided foam tape etc. My personal favourite is Pinflair Gel Glue because it dries clear & is silicon without the odour!

~ Thank you for visting my blog ~

Simple Card.....

I made this card to post to a lady in The Cupboard Trilogy, The Craft Cupboard Show & Tell group

I have used papers from my stash box, so don't remember the makes. The green check paper I die cut & prefered to use the negative, allowing the pretty embossed paper behind to show through. The stamps are Magnolia's -singing Tilda & the musical notes stamp was in one of my recent Scrapagogo kits. I then simply added ribbon, flowers - rose was from my own stash the calla lillies were purchased from Wild Orchids Craft & some stickles glue!

****

I would like to enter this to the following challenges:
Oldie But A Goodie ~ Ribbons are more then 6mths old
Creative Card Crew ~ Add Dimension
Divas by Design ~ Anything Goes
Crafts & Me ~ Add a Ribbon
Party Time Tuesdays ~ Anything Goes
LEJ Designs ~ Ribbons Galore

Hotshot Crafts ~ Die Cuts ~ I have used a die cut negative

Thank you for visiting my blog

Jane xx

The Happy Scrappers blog goes live ...

I am thrilled to announce that the latest scrapbook challenge blog is now live.
It is called called The Happy Scrappers & I am on the Design Team. This challenge blog is for scrapbookers of all abilities to take part in a monthly challenge, the DT that have been chosen are all at different levels of experience so that there is something for everyone. So, if you have often thought about scrapbooking but didn't really know how to start, this is the perfect opportunity. If your more experienced, then your also welcome, one of our DT members Carol likes to use digital scrapbooking, so there really is a great variety! You will find that the LO's/Pages produced are varied, so hopefully you will find something that inspires you to play along too.
This months Challenge is "Anything Goes"

This means that you choose the theme of your LO this time, please see my LO below, you can view all the DT LO's over on the blog.

We would be delighted if you would advertise The Happy Scrappers challenge blog on your own blogs, facebook pages, groups & forums, to help us get the word out into the craft world.

Please join in with the fun & maybe you will be our first Monthly Challenge Winner & wear the badge.

There are no prizes for these challenges, but we hope to wet your appetite & wake up your mojo. Challenges are also a great way to get more visitors to your blogs too!

This is the very first time I have scrapbooked any photos of my newest grandaughter Yasmin, so wanted to keep it as a simple LO

I chose to back my page with a sheet of cardstock weight patterned paper, because it already had that pretty top corner ~ MME Follow Your Heart/"Bee Happy" Be You.

I then cut a wide strip of the same patterned paper, using the reverse pattern, I glued some narrow pink trim down the length of this strip, to give it an edge & texture before glueing to the 12x12 page.

I then cut smaller pieces in different patterns & shades to start building up the layers, placing them where I am sure I wanted them before glueing them down.

I decided not to mat & layer my photograph this time, instead I simply glued it on of of the paper layers. Like a lot of designer scrapbook paper on the market, there was a very pretty & coordinating strip of pattern at the bottom of the sheet that we would trim off. I chose to use this on my page, it's the narrow strip of floral paper, which I tied a bow of 'bakers twine' too before gluing in place,  this tiny strip of paper worked well on the page because it contained a hint of orange, which tied in nicely allowing me to use orange on the little 'American Crafts' embellishment.

My next step was to place a title, in this case I have simply chosen the baby's name 'Yasmin'

Finally, I chose some cardstock stickers with appropriate wording & placed on the page along with a couple of smokey coloured gem stones to finish the page!

I hope you like it & I broken down the page enough to help you if your just starting out on your scrapbooking journey ....

I look for ward to seeing your scrapbook pages soon, remember to leave me a comment so that I can come & view what you make

My Tip ~ Remember to always use an acid & lignin free glue on photographs or they will deteriorate over time!

Thank you for visiting my blog

~*~ Jane ~*~

A month of blog prompts from DoCrafts for Creativity members ...

Never under estimate DoCrafts, I did for a long time by wrongly thinking they were a bit of a 'one trick pony' but how wrong could I be. Recently I joined the Creativity Club because I could see that DoCrafts was emerging & moving forward. Anyway, Emma who is the Creativity Club manager has set up a whole month of 'blog prompts' that will run for the entire month of May. I am running a day late (nothing new there lol) in starting, so will need to post 2 today, the 1st prompt is

"5 Reasons why should you craft?"

These are the reasons that I love to craft

(1) I use it as a therapy because I suffer with daily pain & fatique, it helps to occupy my mind, this in turn takes the focus away from what is going on in my body!

(2) I love to blog & write about what I have made. Why? because it's like having a portfolio of my makes & I also get a buzz when someone comments. I don't expect all glory, I do take constructive critism as long as it is done for the right reasons & not just to be nasty!

(3) Crafting & sharing online reaches out to people, I have made so many lovely people through my crafting by blogging, forums, groups etc. Some of these people I have gone on to meet up with in real life, by joining craft clubs while others I stay in contact with regularly online!

(4) I am by default quite a shy person, not always able to express myself eloquently. However, through crafting & showing what I create, those barriers break down. My style says a lot about who I am, people talk to me & visa versa about my ideas, how I used a certain product etc.
It has given me a new found confidence. So much so, that I now own & run 3 online & successful craft groups!

(5) I simply enjoy what I do, I don't always like the end product, but I always enjoy making it.

 For me that is what crafting is all about, enjoying what you do, it doesn't matter if your not particularly talented true crafters don't judge, they just encourage!

Thanks for reading my blog :)

~*~ Jane ~*~

Quick card made for ...

Stella's monthly sketch challenge over on The Craft Cupboard Show & Tell facebook group.

I have used papers that came free with a magazine, paper lace, card candie. I purchased the rubber stamp for the image & greeting sticker from a fellow member of The Craft Cupboard. I chose to use water colou pencils to colour the image, because I wanted a softer effect.
You can keep up with the goings on in my facebook groups & take part in challenges over on
The Cupboard Trilogy blog

Thank you for stopping by my blog

~X~

The Hat ...

This page was created using the March Essentially GoGo kit, as soon as I saw the papers & colours that this was the photograph that I would use. The photo is of my grandson Mason at 2 years old when taken last May, during the first onset of what turned out to be hot & sunny.
He loved his new sun hat & wore it from dawn until dusk.
I think it really suits him & his cheeky personality!

Everything on the page was included in the kit, except the paper lace that was in a ScrapaGoGo kit way back. The thickers were a stone colour & didn't stand out against the page very well, so I coloured them using promarkers to pick up the green from his T-shirt. Have you spotted the cute bumble bee charm & the sweet tiny bird?

* Jane *

I have been given ....

The Liebster award, by the lovely Karen from Karen Louise Crafts 

Which must mean that my poor neglected blog has been noticed, thank you Karen

 The origins of the Liebster Blog award are somewhat unclear but the general consensus is that it originated in Germany, "Liebster" meaning favorite or dearest, to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Upon accepting the award the recipient must then pass it on to 5 more blogs of note. So  I am really flattered to have been awarded it, thanks again Karen.

The honour of accepting this award is traditionally done in the following way:
1. Show thanks to the blogger who awarded it to you, by linking back to thier blog.
2. Choose 5 blogs with less than 200 followers &let them know about your nomination by leaving a comment on thier blog & follow them if you don't already.
3. Post the award on your blog!
So, here are the names of the blogs that I believe are deserving of the award.
I hope that you will visit too!

Debs

Erin 

Lesley 
Shaz 
Tracy 
Once again, thank you Karen this award means a lot to me :) x

There's a New Challenge Blog .....

I am very excited to learn about this impending challenge blog in particular, because it's for all of us Scrapbookers! I know that there scrapbooking challenges out there in blogland, but a lot of them are in based in other countries or are based on sketches. I am not knocking any other challenge sites out there, they are all fantastic, but I am loving that this one is based right here in the UK.

It is going to be a monthly challenge & called The Happy Scrappers The 1st challenge will go live on 5th May 2012. There will be no prizes up for grabs, but oddles of inspiration from the Design Team, fellow scrapbookers & their blogs.

I will be there to join in the fun, will you join us too?!

An update on the.....

*VALENTINES Craft Stamper HEART Challenge*
As well as the Craft Stamper magazine Apron that I am offering as a prize, Katy Fox, is also going to give a £20.00 Goodie bag to the challenge winner too (for blog entries only ** there are seperate prizes in the group, including an apron) You can read what Katy has written on the Craft Stamper blog, she has written a lovely piece for us The Cupboard Trilogy 

....
http://craftstamper.blogspot.com/

Craft Stamper Magazine

craftstamper.blogspot.com

This card has been made .....

Following Stella Owen Hibbert's February Sketch challenge, over on The Craft Cupboard group on Facebook 

& The Cupboard Trilogy Blog

I have used a free paper from a magazine, some Kanban toppers that I bought from somebody in The Craft Cupboard, black cardstock & mini flowers from my own craft stash.

Thanks for visiting

* Jane *

Made a Little Card for .....

A challenge set on The Craft Cupboard group on facebook. The challenge was set by one of the admin members Vanessa & the brief is to create a card suitable for a child between the ages of 1 - 16 for any occasion. Vanessa is very kindly offering a Spellbinders "Fluer de Lis Squares" Die as a prize, I don't have that one yet & would love to win it ... The challenge will be judged by Vanessa's 3 children, which I think is a great idea.

Here is my card, I haven't added a greeting yet, because I'm not who I will be sending it too or why.

Happy Valentines Day ...

I am off out babysitting later so my son & daughter in law can go out for a meal, so my other half will be spending the evening with the dog... I hope that you all have fun whatever you do to cellabrate Valentines day.

I have a Valentines Challenge over on The Cupboard Trilogy blog. It runs from today through to 1st March, there is a Craft Stamper magazine embroidered apron up for grabs for the lucky winner. You also have 2 chances to win, but you have to enter with 2 different Cards, Scrapbook LOs or 3D projects to get both.

There is a clause though, your entries MUST include the image of the freebie stamp that was attached to the February edition of the Craft Stamper magazine.

The reason that I have chosen to use that particular stamp is because it was designed by Sarah Lawrence, the owner of Crafty Notions, who sadly & suddenly passed away in December 2011. So this challenge is a tribute to her.

The challenge will be judged by Katy Fox ~ Editor of the Craft Stamper & Scrap365 magazines ...

I hope that you will all try to join in with this fun challenge! 
You can find The Cupboard Trilogy blog HERE

Take care

Jane x

The CHA 2012 Previews .....

Coming in thick & fast now, I just love looking through them to see what's new & going to be hot for the next 6 months. I am always on the look out for Tim Holtz launches, because there is always something there to wet the appetite. Take a look at his blog HERE for sneeky peeks of what he is launching this time around. I am particularly interested in his Distress Pens, complete with a transforming white one!

~*~ Jane ~*~

Quick Card for ......

Stella Owen Hibbert's Sketch Challenge in The Craft Cupboard's Show & Tell group over on facebook! 

I'm not completely sure I like it, I'm not used to skimping on the embellishments. For this sketch we were limited to only adding 3 flowers & MUST include the 3 sentiments, I felt a bit daunted by the simplicity of it. So I started off with a bold background, then that in turn had me scratching my head. In hindsight, I wish I had inked the edges of the dies cuts, but that's what a challenge is all about, so well done Stella!

If you would like to take part in Stella's Sketch Challenge yourself, feel free to give it a try & then pop over to The Craft Cupboard blog & link back to your cards page, so that we can view it, we would love to see it & I'm sure that you will do better than me!!

~*~ Jane ~*~

I just wanted to say ....

\~/ Thank you ScrapaGoGo \~/

I am now able to buy your kits again, finances have been much tighter since this stupid Arthritis took a turn for the worse, so had to cancel my subscription! Now, you have just released your 'Essentially GoGo' kits, same great value, still packed high with quality craft yummies, but at a lower price .....

That's not all you get for the £14.00 with GoGo, oh no there is so much more on offer too, included in the price your also entitled to join in with the fun over at The Clubhouse too, along with subscription discount if you choose to attend one of the GoGo Getaways I have attended one of these myself & I can highly recommend it, your treated like a craft princess for the whole weekend. Oh & there's more in the form of Tutorials by the amazing GoGo Girls DT, challenges, prompts & more ......

So what will I get in my yellow box each month?

5 12x12 Quality Papers

3 12x12 Bazzill Cardstock

1 Alphabet

1 Bespoke Embellishment Pack

1 Exclusive Stamp

1 Sheet Exclusive Hybrids

1 Idea Booklet

I couldn't resist this fab deal so, I signed up this afternoon ;)

Just got to wait for February now to start looking out for the postie with my Bright Yellow Box of goodies ♥ ♥ ♥

~*~ Jane ~*~

I guess it's time ....

To get rid of the Christmas header on the blog

I'm a little sad to see it go, so think I will keep it to use again later on this year

~*~ Jane ~*~