A Red Challenge and Bye Bye 2009!.......

I've been meaning to join in with the ATC challenges over at Steff's Stuff for a while now

....but life has been a little hectic here, and with the added Christmas preparations, found it a little difficult to keep up with a lot of swaps and challenges!!

So, finally here is my ATC for this weeks 'Red' Challenge:

I've used various rubber stamps and the cute little image is from 'Crafty Individuals', added a few buttons and some lace.

Steff and I have traded ATC's in the past, and she makes some lovely art!

...So if you fancy an ATC Challenge, pop over to Steff's, she posts a new challenge every Monday.

... I'm feeling optimistic that 2010 will help me find my crafty mojo!!

Well, it's still 2009, and I've been busy making some Thank you cards

.....and here is a little ATC to wish all my friends and blogging buddies ...

....A Happy New Year!!

The image is a freebie from Clearly Vintage blog

Cora is so generous and posts some wonderful images

for you to use in your artwork.

Thank you Cora!!

A Happy New Year to all!

May 2010

bring you Health and Happiness,

...and a lots of 'crafty' inspiration also!! ;)

Here's to the bright new year,

and a fond farewell to the old;

here's to the things that are yet to come,

and to the memories that we hold.

(Anonymous)

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

one more sleep.....

I would like to thank you for all the lovely comments

during my first months of blogging.

It has been a pleasure meeting you all.

....and I will look forward to getting to know you all better,

in 2010.

I would just like to wish all my blogging friends

a Merry Christmas

and a Happy 'Crafty' New Year!

Jan x

An Inchie Christmas.....

Over at Inchy by Inch,

I was involved in a Christmas Inchy swap
These are the inchies I made.

I do love a swap!!

....and these are the beauties I got in return.

Fab aren't they!

Thank you Fiona for hosting!

...and a thank you to all the inchie artists for a great swap!

Thanks for looking!

Jan x

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow......

Brrrrrr!!

Lots of the cold white stuff has been falling down, here in Essex!!

The garden has transformed into a Winter Wonderland!!

...and with the winter theme in mind...
...I dusted of the sewing machine again, to make some festive fabric ATC's

Still struggling with sewing

in a straight line

LOL

(but getting there!!)

I made all these fabric ATC's for
various Winter/Festive themed
swaps

Off to get a Hot drink now!!! ;)

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Christmas shopping in Bath and fabby mail.....

..Mmm, December is whizzing by, and I'm still making Christmas cards!!

But before it gets too hectic here...

..... I have just spent a wonderful relaxing weekend in Bath.

-That's the Beautiful City, not the bubbly wet container kind! LOL :)

My lovely hubby whisked me away for a great Christmas shopping trip to Bath. A belated 20th anniversary pressie (with No kids ;) Way-hey!!)

..I've never been to Bath before, So stunning! It's a mega 3 hour car journey for us, although it took us nearly 5 hours due to delays and traffic jams!! Agh!!

...but the Hotel and the Fantastic sights made up for the tedious journey, it was an excellent trip. We had a fab time, doing the touristy bits, including the Roman Baths etc.

....Just a Lil bit of shopping ;) LOL

Yup, that's me -in the pink scarf :) posing in front of Bath Abbey (LOL)

...and on our return home, some fabby mail from the U.S. was waiting for me....

Wow, Christmas had come early!!

If you have been reading an earlier post, you may have noticed that I took part in altered matchbox trade arranged by Pat...

.....well, as promised here are some pics of the beautiful box of treasures that Lori (from Washington) made for me, for our matchbox trade.

What a fantastic job Lori did! Her matchbox is her first attempt at using embossed metal . Although you wouldn't believe it was a first attempt, because it is brilliant!

I Love it!!

There are so many nifty little treasures in the matchbox - Lori generously managed to cram 41 items into it!! (which strangely enough is my age!! -LOL, did I really admit that!! ;)

I 've spilled everything out and gone through all the little goodies, only problem is I can't fit them all back into the box now!! ;)

Thank you Lori, for a fabby matchbox trade, you did a wonderful job!

...and thanks again to Pat for organising it.

This has been a fun swap

...will look forward to taking part in another after the Holidays....

Thanks for Looking

Jan x

Jingle bells, Jingle Bells.......

...Jingle all the way.

The Inchy by Inch theme this week (and the last challenge of this year) is:

Christmas Carol

Well, my favourite Christmas song is Jingle Bells!

...and here's my little inchy to prove it!!

Been fun playing along with the inchy challenges!

Thank you Fiona for organising everything !

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Matchbox swap...

Pat, over at Artfully Ooglebloops

(love that blog name!!) organised an altered matchbox swap recently.

The swap was to decorate a matchbox and fill it to the brim with li'l treasures.

Being as I've recently discovered and become just a tad addicted to these little boxes of fun, I just couldn't wait to join in!

Here is the box I altered for my swap partner Lori in Washington (It's ok to post pics now, as I've just heard that it has arrived safely to it's destination in the States )

I altered the matchbox, tag and puzzle piece, with some pretty floral feminine papers, buttons, beads and lace.

It's amazing how many little treasures you can squeeze into a teeny weeny matchbox!

Whooo, I can hardly wait to receive my matchbox all the way from the US now!! - will post some pics when it arrives :)

Thanks Pat, for hosting such a fun swap!

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x