As The Year Winds Down....

I pause to think over the year just gone by & am counting my blessings for many things, which include gaining another grandchild, a 'pink one' Yasmin Millie Deedee, born to my youngest son Paul & his lovely lady Leona & a sister for Mason! We also celebrated my father's 80th Birthday which allowed extended family members to catch up & see how thier families have grown too!


There were also sad moments along the way, back in March my dear Mother had a fall at home & left her with a nasty break to her ankle which required surgery. Then she contracted the dreaded MRSA bug, she still hasn't healed now & still needs regular dressings!


My pain levels have been through the roof this past year & my mobility has definately worsened. I am lucky that I am a patient of the reknowned Royal Mineral Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath, where I spent 9 days as an in patient in October! There I was told that my Ankylosing Spondylosis is now very active, so I am due to receive a new medication in the New Year, there have been some positive feedback from this new drug, my consulting team are quite positive that it will help me! On a positive note I met some wonderful people, fellow patients with a whole range of rheumatic conditions, friendships that are continuing now that I am back home. It's helpful to get this support from others that really do understand why I am like I am & not having to explain myself all the time or apologise that I am unable to manage something or keep an a appointment or a date!


I started The Craft Cupboard on Facebook, a group where fellow crafters could sell on thier unwanted craft supplies, I had no idea how popular it would be, but apart from a few teething troubles, it has gone from strength to strength, so much so that I ended up creating a second group, to allow the members to be able to show what they have made, share knowledge & tips & techniques, along with challenges, inspiration station for those days when craft block sets in! I then noticed that some members liked to sell thier handmade goods, so a third group was created to allow this to take place. This means that The Craft Cupboard is now a Trilogy .... I think I will leave it there though, because I couldn't cope with anymore, even with my happy band of admin members!


My middle son Steve has just turned his childhood dream into reality, by qualifying as a Fire Fighter, my other oldest son was asked to step up as Head Chef for The Castle Hotel in Castle Coombe & my youngest son has managed to get himself a job after some years of unemployment. I am very proud of all of them, in fact all four of my lads!


My partner Alex's son left school this year & is now at college studying engineering & his 2 younger daughters are growing up fast.


I spent a very happy Christmas weekend at the home of my oldest sons Kevin (he's a twin) & his lovely wife Donna (I'm convinced she is a direct decendant of Mother Nature herself) & family!
I can't remember the last time I saw so much fabulous food & drink under one roof,certainly not since my 4 sons grew up & left home, it was so special to be sat watching my grandsons opening thier gifts from Santa  ;)


I will see the year out at home, with Alex & his two daughters who are staying with us for the week, we will be playing games, watch a nice film & just be content to have survived another year!


I wonder what next year holds for me?
Whatever it is, I will do my best to make the most of it & stay as happy & mobile as I am able to do, share both laughs & tears & be thankful for my family, friends.

Happy New Year to you all

Woman's Prayer

Lord, Before I lay me down to sleep, 

I pray for a man, who’s not a creep, but, one who is handsome, smart and strong 

and whose willy will be, thick and long. 

One who thinks before he speaks, when promises to call, he won’t wait weeks. 

I pray that he's gainfully employed, so when I spend his cash, he won’t be annoyed. 

Pulls out my chair and opens my door, massages my back and begs to do more. 

Oh! Send me a man who will make love to my mind, knows just what to say, when I ask

"How big’s my behind?" 

One who’ll make love till my body’s a twitchin’, in the hall, the loo, the garden and kitchen! 

I pray that this man will love me no end, and never attempt to shag my best friend. 

So as I kneel here and pray by my bed, I look at the dickhead you sent me instead...

By Linda Parsons

~*~

Jane

Joanna Sheen & Christmas Wishes

Joanna Sheen now has a challenge blog, it will run monthly challenges & the first one was uploaded today. I have taken a look at her Design Team & it has loads of very talented crafters, including Paula Holifield & Susannah Mcmanus Kelly who are also members of my Facebook groups

The Craft Cupboard Trilogy

This months theme is *Christmas Wishes* 

Any form of papercraft is accepted as long as it fits the theme!

You can use any image you like, but if you use a Joanna Sheen image then you will automatically get 2 entries in the challenge. The winner will be decided using Random.org & the winner will receive a £30.00 voucher to spend in Joanna Sheen's online store!

The DT will also pick their top 3 makes and we will also give one of you the opportunity to join us in our fab Guest Designer spot.

There are a few rules, so please visit the challenge blog HERE read them & enter for your chance to win!

~*~

Jane

The Craft Cupboard Trilogy

The Craft Cupboard Story

Some months ago, I set up a private group on Facebook, for fellow crafters to sell their unloved craft materials & equipment. The maximum number of members at anyone time is 250, so it's small enough to get to know a lot of the members, especially the regulars that come in at least once a day. They come in to sell & buy, but also for the chatter with like minded people! When I started the group, I only ever expected to have the one. However, after it had been open for a while, it became obvious that there was a growing need to offer somewhere for this friendly group to showcase what they made. We need the feed on the group to keep flowing, so that members can readily see what is on offer to buy & sell & the general chatter & members were by this time wanting to show each other what they had made, or show how something is used on their projects etc. 

So, the second Cupboard group was created & only open to members of the original group. It's a very busy & fun group, that offers support, tips & tutorials, along with where to buy, as well as linking to outside soarces etc. something that's not allowed in the Cupboard. This second group is called the Craft Cupboard Show & Tell, it's a lot more relaxed with fewer rules & regulations. Oh, & there is so much talent in there, just when you have finished looking at one amazing item, another equally brilliant piece appears on the feed. 

The Show & Tell group also has a monthly prize challenge, where the winner is chosen by the members themselves, the only time that admin step in, is if there is a draw, we then have to choose the winner! 
Thank goodness, so far we haven't had to step in, because it would be such a hard choice.

Then, we began to notice that members were starting to ask if something was for sale. This prompted myself & my admin team wondering how to take things forward? Members are only allowed to sell craft materials in the Craft Cupboard & no selling is allowed in the Show & Tell. That's when Tracey on of my senior admin members rang me to suggest opening a third group, so after a lot communication with my admin, we put it forward to the members themselves to see if the need was out there?  
It turned out that many of the Cupboard group members already sold things that they create. So, after a lot of preparing & setting up of rules, plus working out how we should run this third group, TCC Marketplace was born.

The TCC Marketplace is an open group. This mean's that anyone on Facebook can find us & can apply to join, whether they are there to sell, buy or just look at what's on offer & everyone is welcome. 

I have to admit to being very proud of 
The Craft Cupboard Trilogy

~*~

Jane :) x

First one under my belt

 The first Christmas card I have made this year, all it needs is the greeting, I will add that when I decide who get's it. Made using Moreheads die cut decoupage, freebie papers from last months Cards & Papercraft magazine, & a Nestie Die, Glamour Dust & Stars that I bought from lovely members of The Craft Cupboard, my group on Facebook & Ribbon from my ribbon box!

thanks for visiting my blog
toodle pip
-x-

The Miners Woe

There's a cry in the valleys,
Tears in the West,
Mourning the heroes that wear the pit vest,
Underground grafters always put in a shift,
Below the hillside in the deep dark drift,
They're not coming home to their children their wives...
The mine once again takes cherished lives....

♥ R.I.P the 4 Welsh Miners who lost their lives ♥

Back to school .... hoorah

Twas the night before school started, when all through the town,
the parents were cheering...It was a riotous sound!
By 8, kids were washed and tucked into bed...
Where memories of homework filled them with dread!
New pencils, new folders, new notebooks too!
New teachers, new friends... Their anxiety grew!
The parents just giggled when they learned of this fright
- and shouted upstairs: Go to bed. its a school night!

These aren't my words, they were being passed around on facebook! I thought you might enjoy them, I know I did & brought back many memories of when my 4 sons were still at school :)

Thanks for dropping by

Jane ~ xXx

Simple Card

This card looks so much nicer in real life, I just can't get the editing on it quite right today & the light for taking photo's is not good either.
I still need so much practice with my promakers, but I am beginning to get the hang of the blending of them.
For this card I have used Basic Grey Papers ~ sweet threads range
plus paper & lace from my odds box.
Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts
Gems & Crystal Pin from my Duck Pond Craft Kit
Nestie & Promarkers
I am entering this card in the the I <3 Promarkers Challenge

Thanks for dropping by
Jane ~ xXx

My August Blooms Kit

Lots of yummies arrived on my doorstep a few days ago, in the form of my august blooms kit from Karen owner of Duck Pond Crafts
The blooms kit always comes delivered in a pretty chiffon bag & when you open it all the lovely blooms & ribbons come tumbling out. Karen pops the pins, charms, buttons & gems in a little cellophane bags to prevent them from damaging the other more delicate contents!
As you can see the August kit is made up of pinks, blues, black & creams .... so pretty!
In the cello bag this month you will find buttons, crystal topped pins, gems, charms & dew drops, I am really looking forward to using the kit. The blooms kit retails at £11.00 incl P&P
Karen also produces cardmaking kits too & stocks a large range of charms, she prides herself on trying to find charms & other items for her kits, that are just that little bit different.

A little card for a friend

At last I am wanting to craft again, I made this little card for a friend. I have also discovered promarkers & am slowly building buying them & hope to have the complete set soon. I am OK with just colouring with them, but need a lot of practice with the blending. So, I think this image still looks a little flat ... Still, I had fun making the card & there was a lot of love put into it too & that's the main thing, plus it brought a smile to it's new owner :)

Someone gifted me the stamped image, so I don't know the name of the stamp, but I used Basic Grey papers & flowers purchased from Wild Orchid Crafts I used Stickles for the wings & of coarse nesties to cut out the circles!

Thanks for dropping by
Jx