A Fab New Online Shop.....

Opened this week by the lovely Clare Curd, she has called it Clare Curd Crafts.

I can't wait until pay day because she has so many wonderful crafty delights on her shelves.

To celebrate the launch of her store she is offering a prize to one of her followers, she is giving away a fantastic Silhouette SD, how cool is that!

Head on over to Clare's blog to find out how to enter for a chance to win this awesome prize 

Thredbo

Here is the LO that I have used as a DT example for this months challenge over on The Cupboard Trilogy blog.

The challenge this month is called "Lead by Example" I would be thrilled if you could visit the blog & bowled over if you would join in, there is a lovely patterned paper pad up for grabs this month.

All you have to do is look through the Design Team examples, then choose one to use as your inspiration. You can unashameably copy it, be inspired by how it is designed, or it's colour combo. Then link to the blog & tell us who's design you used as inspiration ... Easy right?

The photographs in this LO were taken in 2000 when I went to Australia the 1st time, they are called Threadbo Mountains & the only place in Australia where you can ever see snow. The mountains are also the start of the irrigation system that NSW uses to be able to grow crops. 

The papers are by Rusty Pickle & I think they are called French Market, that big snowflake I made myself by tracing around a huge brad on to a piece of chipboard, I cut it out & used some tiny files to file away at the edges, then painted it & added some pen lines.

The rub on snowflakes & the title are placed on acetate as an overlay, which in real life looks quite dimensional & helps bring the somewhat boring photos to life.

Thanks for visiting

~ Jane ~

Saying goodbye to 2012 ....

Last year for me, had it's highs & lows, plus a huge change in lifestyle too.

Cripple Camp in May was brilliant, I am not being unkind by calling it that, it's just the pet name that we call ourselves. We are a small group of people that have all spent some time in the Royal Mineral Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital in October of 2011 & met some lovely ladies from all around the UK, who quickly became friends & wanted to remain in touch, Katy set up a closed facebook group where we can visit to support each other on the hard days & share the good days & generally just have a good old chin wag. In May some of us met up in a Bristol hotel for a weekend, a few I hadn't met before but, they quickly became my good friends too. We all have different conditions, some similar symptoms between us & some are more disabled than others, but we all support each other & accept the way we are & don't expect anything of anyone. Roll on the next meet up!

In June, I started my own challenge blog called The Cupboard Trilogy, this is something that I have wanted to do for a long time, but not quite had the courage to do it. So far it is proving to be active & entry numbers are growing monthly, I am sure this is down to the wonderful work of my fab Design Team, who continue to produce fabulous examples every month. We have a new prize challenge start on the 1st day of each month & paper crafters everywhere are all very welcome to play along, please visit us HERE to join in.

I was made a grandmother again in September, when Skyla Esme Beau was born, being my 4th grandaughter to join my other 9 grandchildren that I am very blessed to have in my family. The ages of my 10 darlings range from 14yrs down to tender age of Skyla, still a babe in arms. I have been told that their will not be anymore grandchildren now, because my 4 wonderful sons families are now complete.

September also saw the breakdown of my 12yr relationship with Alex. Where we lived together was on the edge of a village, although not remote public transport was very poor & I would have become very isolated, so I needed to look at moving into a nearby town where it would allow me to be more independent. I don't own my home, it's a housing association property, so I started to look for a mutual exchange. Within a week I had found a little 1 bedroom flat where I thought I would be happy to live & the occupant wanted my little bungalow, so we put in for the exchange to take place.

October 1st Alex moved out & on the 27th I moved into my flat, I felt comfortable immediately, everything I need is on my doorstep, which is great because of my limited mobility. This move meant such a big change for me in more ways than 1, because it's the 1st time in all of my 52 yrs that I have ever lived completely alone. I quickly had to learn to budget & any other things that would have until now, been done jointly, but I am managing it just fine so far.

The year was topped off by spending Christmas with my sons & seeing in the New Year with Alex, we remain good friends & hopefully always will.

So come on 2013 bring it on, let's see what you have in store for me during the next 12 months .... I am ready!

Happy New Year to you all, I hope it brings you health & happiness, as well as a comfortably balanced life .....

~ Jane ~

xXx

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 ~