OWOH...whoo what a ride....

...on that carpet

...and just what I had hoped for...

have met some new 'crafty' friends along the way!

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My OWOH giveaway winner Sherry has received her prize from me...

well it didn't have to go too far, Sherry not only lives in England, but also also lives in Essex!!

(what a coincidence, out of 242 comments left on my giveaway, random.org picks someone living in the same part of the Country as me!!)

My giveaway was for a crafty individuals stamp and an ATC made on a theme of the winners choice.

Well, Sherry chose a sewing theme, so this is the ATC
I made for her,

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...Also while visiting lots of wonderful and inspiring blogs along the way

I saw that Bee had a post on altered matchboxes on her blog, well being as I have a slight (well major!!) addiction to altered matchboxes, I was interested to see

that she was up for a swap. So I left a message, and was glad when I heard that she was willing to swap with me....

...and this is the gorgeousness I received in the mail:

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...one beautiful altered box, how awesome is that handmade rose!!

...a sweet little note card

..and Bee also generously gave me lots of handmade Japanese paper scraps, just so perfect for altering these little matchboxes!

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THANK YOU again Bee!!

...and take a peek at the inside of Bee's box, look at all that fabby glitter, whoo I do love my Glitter!!
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...and yet another coincidence, not only is Bee also from the same county, our paths have crossed in the past, as we both have made some cards for the same ribbon supplier...
Small World eh!!

I've also altered a matchbox for Bee, but I'm not going to show pics just yet, as it's only gone postal today, and I want it to be a surprise...

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....But some more Fabby OWOH news, I won,

...not one

...not two

..but three fabby giveaways!!

WAHOOOO!!

and from three different countries!!

a beautiful heart necklace from Liv (Australia)

another stunning beaded necklace from Peggy (USA)

and a sweet crochet corsage from Emily (Ireland)

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..what a bonus to visiting all these wonderful blogs!!

....will blog a little more about my treasures when the arrive!

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Thanks for looking!

Jan x

Catching up with Inchies and Dressing Up!......

......Wow, have had a really productive crafting day today!!

First of all....

Let's Play DRESS UP

Over at Alice and Camilla Margaret

has got us all playing dress-ups!!

Some of my friends have already joined in this project and I have enjoyed seeing all their dressy creations!

...and I knew I just had to join in with this....

...being the mum of 3 boys, I've missed out on all the dressing up with pretty dresses!! LOL

....So, now's my chance to get all cute and frilly!! Although like Margaret, I'm also a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal!! So this may proove to be more of a challenge!....

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Well, I'm playing catch up, because the project is to make a dress each month, so everyone is already on their February (2nd) dress.

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Heres my January Dress.. Well, as it was a rather chilly, snowy time here in the UK during Jan, my dress is covered in snow flakes. I've added lace, paper napkin, ribbon, snow-flakes, buttons, flowers,glitter...

...those little beads on wire reminded me of snowballs!! (Had some fun with them in January!!!)

..and if you look closely, I've added a glass pendant in amongst the flowers (reminded me of ice!!)

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...and now to Februarys Dress...

..well being as February, is the most romantic month, what with it being Valentine's and wotnot!!
..my dress had to have the feel of romance!!

reds, pinks, roses, romantic writings, lace, ribbon and hearts!!

...Now, I'm going to enjoy going around all the blogs participating to have a peek at their fabby dresses!

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Well, now on too some inchy business...

over at Inchybyinch we are already on 'F'

I'm also on catch up for this, as I missed last week, so here are my 'E' and 'F' inchies...

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Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

OWOH winner is......

Wow, what a carpet ride it has been!

Thank you again Lisa of A whimsical Bohemian for organising everything!!

Have visited some lovely and inspiring blogs along the way..

...and can't wait to visit them again in depth...

Thank you to all those that left some lovely comments..

..and a Big Hello to all my new followers...

I'm looking forward to making some new 'crafting' friendships!

....which leaves me to announce the winner of my giveaway!!

Drum Roll please!! ...................

with the help of Random.org

the winner is:

Sherry

and this is the comment Sherry left....

Hi Jan, it's lovely to meet you. Thanks for the chance of your lovely stamp giveaway. If i was lucky enough to win I'd love an ATC with a dressmaking/sewing theme. I hope you can come and see my giveaways here (if you haven't already!)

Sherry,I'll email you right away for your addy.

..then I'll make you a sewing themed atc and get it in the post to you with the stamp!

Jan x

Gingersnap creations - Numbers, Romance, lace and fibers.....

Well, I've been a busy bee the last few days,

..and have been inspired to create 3 different types of projects

for the Gingersnap Creations Challenges...

..for the GC40: Random redhead challenge -Numbers

Here is my atc... full of numbers!!

..a bingo background, ticket, numbered charm.

Image by Crafty Individuals

..added a few flowers and some lace.

...for the GC41: Chestnut challenge - Romance
this challenge, I decided to decoupage a wooden heart,(decoupaged with decopatch papers.)

...for the GC42: Spicy Supply challenge -Lace/fibers

I love using lace in my mixed media art,

I'm really into pretty shabby chic style at the moment.

I made this valentine card using various different sizes of lace.

...added a few buttons, hearts,ribbon, old key and other embellies...

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

p.s. I'll be announcing my OWOH giveaway later today!

Love is in the air.....Let's get Shabby

......Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Whoo, have been so busy here! Not posted for an whole week!

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Well, Valentine's day, is a bittersweet day for me, it's the anniversary of my father's passing nine years ago.

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Somewhere in my dreams tonight,

I'll see you standing there,

You look at me with a smile,

Life isn't always fair....

-Gone-Never forgotten-Always in my heart-

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...On a lighter not, hubby always spoils me rotten, He took me to a craft fair in London on Friday, and was bored out of his little socks - Bless him!! He bought me lots of new goodies for a Valentine's treat, which I cant wait to play with!!!

...and this mornng, I've had croissonts and coffee, a lovely card and perfume...

.......He's definately a keeper!!

CHALLENGE EIGHT

Now, on to the Shabby love challenge at Let's get Shabby

You had to create something Valentine 'shabby' style but it must contain a letter/note that as been written by you or others.....

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Mmmm, had to think hard about this one, I've had lots of beautiful heart-wrenching notes from my 3 boys when they were younger and while they've been growing up, but I don't think I've ever received a love letter from Hubby!! Not good, being as I'm an hopeless romantic!!

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.....Don't get me wrong, he always sends beautiful cards, flowers, pressies etc... but being a man's man...I don't think he would ever write a love note - Bless Him!! I think the nearest I would get from him, is a shopping list for the grocery store LOL!!

Mmmm.....Not very romantic for this sort of project!

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...So, I've written a little love note to him....

We have been together for nearly 27 years

....through the usual ups and downs,

Happy times and sad ones,

...He's my soul mate!

(There, I told you I was soppy romantic LOL!)

In one of my crafts groups recently, my friend Les, got us all making Valentine Tag booklets for a swap, which sparked an idea, to make a little tag booklet to place a little note in for Hubby!!

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This is the front of the tag booklet:

embellished with papers, ribbon. buttons,flowers, vintage key, lace,heart pendant and and all things shabby!!

(you can click on pics for a better view)

This is the back of the tag booklet...

Inside, the tag opens up, to reveal two little pockets, containing valentine ephemera, and of course my little love note (folded up) to spare blushes LOL!!

..and whilst looking online for poems recently to go with some valentine creations, I came across this poem which I thought was very apt for this project...

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Mother's Valentine

My mother made a Valentine

So very long ago

and decked it out all prettily

like for a special beau.

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I watched her as she cut the heart

then frilled it up with lace

and worked artistically away

a smile upon her face.

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she wove a ribbon shiny red

among the lace so white

then placed a picture of herself

through a slit she cut inside.

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I saw the words, 'I Love You Dear,

I'm proud to be your wife

you've given me the blessings

of, a blissful, wedded life.'

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I felt like laughing out for joy

my childish heart was glad!

Mom's special valentine would go

to a special beau named Dad!

-Lucille King-

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Thanks for looking!

Jan x

OWOH Giveaway

Phew!! think I just about made it, joining over 1000 bloggers around the world who are riding the Magic carpet.

One World One Heart, was created by Lisa Swifka in 2007, 'The original idea behind this giveaway event was too bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily met. it closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, and discover new people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way'

In 2007 there was 85-90 participants, from many countries, and this year there is already over 1000, who are taking part in this wonderful event!

Well, I've been visiting some of these fantastic blogs, and thought I must join this ride on this magical carpet before it's too late!!

Hi....

.....for those of you visiting my blog for the first time,

my name is Jan from Essex in the UK.

Obsessed with all things crafty, especially atc's, inchies and have recently got interested into other aspects of altered art.

...So being has I'm a keen stamper, and just a little addicted to atc's, My First ever giveaway is:

a crafty individuals stamp (C119)
(I seem to have acquired two of these fabby stamps, so will be giving one away!)

I'll also make the winner, an ATC on a theme of their choosing!

So if you fancy a chance of winning a new stamp, and an ATC made by myself.....

Stop by, Say Hi, and Just a leave a comment...

letting me know the theme of an ATC that you would like..

...and make sure you leave a way of contacting you, if you dont have a Blog!!

A winner will be drawn on the 15th February by a Random generator.

Look forward to meeting all that drop by!!

Thank you Lisa, for creating and hosting a great event!

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Inchy D is for....

....Dancing Daphne

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Wow, we are already at D in the alpha inchy challenge over at Inchy by Inch

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Thanks for looking!

Jan x