inchy 'Z' is for.......

....Zealous Zoe

...and we have now reached the end of the alpha inchy challenge over at inchybyinch

-oOo-

and here is what I did with all my alpha inchies....

-oOo-

Got myself a little wooden box

...covered it in papers

Then added all my all my alpha inchies

a little lace and some german scrap



some ribbon

and a key

Did anyone else do anything with their alpha inchies?

Been a Fun weekly challenge - Thanks Fiona!

-oOo-

Fiona has a new challenge for us in September

Can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve!!

-oOo-

Thanks for looking!

Jan x

Inchy 'Y' is for....

...Youthful Yvonne

This is my 'Y' inchy for the Inchy by Inch Alpha Challenge.

Only 1 more week to go now!

Been a fun challenge!

Thanks Fiona for getting us all creating!

Look in next week to see what I am going to do with all my alpha inchies!!

Any Guesses?

-oOo-

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Inchy V is for.....

.......Violinist Vince.

Whooo the Inchy by Inch challenge is definately getting very tricky now we are nearing the end of the alphabet!!

Gawd knows what I'm going to do with X & Z!!

I've now got all the bits & pieces together to to make something with my alpha inchies....

....so watch this space ;)

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Inchy 'U' is for.....

...Undecided Ursula!!

Poor ol' Ursula has 'cold feet'

..and can't decide whether she should get married or not!! :O

-oOo-

This is my 'U' Inchy for the Inchy By Inch Challenge.

Whooo, it's getting a little difficult now we are nearing the end of the alphabet!!

Better get my thinking cap on now for V,W,X,Y & Z!!!

It's been a fun challenge, and I've got a little idea now of what to do with my alpha inchies, when the challenge is complete ;)

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

From Russia with love.....

A couple month's ago Julia and I agreed do a little swapping between us, I was excited as I've not traded art with anyone from Russia before.

....and I was so delighted with all the goodies I received.

A beautiful atc, with a sweet image - just adore the stitching around the outside!

...and lookie at the wonderful altered matchbox filled with lovelies!!

...and as for the inchies, they are amazing, all Russian inspired!!

How cute are they, Just love the nesting russian Dolls inchy with the family image in size order behind them!! All the inchies have stitching on them as well :)

...and Julia also sent me a little Russian surprise - my own beautiful matryoshka doll - Thanks again Julia for a fantastic swap, I LOVE everything! It's been a real pleasure trading with you !

If you want to see what I sent Julia for our swap, you can see Julia's lovely post here

Thanks for looking!

Jan x

Inchies 'S' and 'T' are for.....

Whooo, it's been a while since my last post!!

...am still here LOL!!

My crafting mojo has been on a little break, maybe due to tiredness- new fur baby and all that!!

Talking of my new fur baby,

Can't believe that we have had Barney for nearly 4 weeks already.

He has settled in so well

Don't be fooled by his cuteness

...He is definately keeping me on my toes LOL!

Now on to some inchy business....

Over at Inchy by Inch

we are up to the letter 'T'

So Sorry- behind again!!

(Surprise Surprise!!)

I made my 'S' inchy last week,

but just didn't get round to blogging it!!

So here it is......

'Sweet Susan'

...and here is my 'T' inchy for this weeks challenge.

'Timid Twins'

( I bet they are not timid really LOL!!!)

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Inchies N O and P.....

Here are some inchies for the Inchy by inch Alpha challenge .

This week we are on the letter 'P'

...but I've just realised I'm behind!

...again!!

So I'm playing catch up!!

-oOo-

N for Nature Nancy

'O' for Observant Oliver

...and this weeks

'P' for Playful Prince

Thanks for looking!

Jan x

Matchbox Madness.....

I'm participating in an altered matchbox swap

Hosted by Penny over at The Linen Shelf

The theme was...

Spring into Summer

-oOo-

Look away now...

....if you are also taking part in the matchbox swap and want a Surprise!!!

.... these are my 10 'Spring into Summer' matchboxes

...the boxes are covered in (bright and sunny) hand made papers

I've added my favourite Spring Flowers (Daffs)

and an orange flower with button centres

plus some charms and jigsaw pieces.

Then edged with some lace

Then for the insides, theres a collaged printed image , I've added some craft moss and some beads for eggs.
-oOo-

Can't wait to see what the other participants have made.

LARGE MATCHBOX TRADE


.and now, be prepared to 'Squeal' How FANTASTIC is this....


I've also done a large matchbox trade with Yvonne
Check out her blog, she creates some amazing mixed media art
...and I was overjoyed to receive these wonderful creations.
Everything is soooo stunning!
The box is altered with fabric and lace
(all stitched!!)
..and the contents are just as spectacular
...beautiful atc's and inchies
Thank you again Yvonne!
I love everything!
I won't show you the box I made for Yvonne,
has she hasn't seen it yet, and I dont want to spoil the surprise!!
-oOo-
...and now for even more Matchbox madness
Here are a couple more large matchboxes that I have altered


...and they are going postal to 2 different 'crafty' friends
...so i hope they like them?
-oOo-
Now, lil question for ya....
what do you do with hundreds of unused matches? LOL!!
-oOo-

Thanks for Looking!
Jan x

Inchy M is for....

.....Maternal Mary

-oOo-

We are now half-way through the alphabet

over at Inchy by inch

...but that shouldn't stop you joining in with the inchie fun

...you can join in at any time.

-oOo-

Warning Inchies are highly addictive LOL

-oOo-

These are all my alpha inchies

to date

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Inchy L is for....

..Lucy's Letters

-oOo-

Here's my Inchy offering

We are now at the letter 'L' in the Alpha challenge over at

Inchy by Inch

-oOo-

..and Look at all these goodies!! Fiona from Inchy by Inch is giving away some lovely Blog candy

..So pop over to Inchy by Inch

and join in the inchies fun!

Thanks for Looking

Jan x

Spring is in the air - Dress Up -and some Alpha inchies......

Well, Spring is in the air....

....and Spring time as officially started here in the UK,

although you wouldn't believe it, because it's still quite chilly! Brrr!

-oOo-

Spring is the time for.....

.....rebirth

.....renewal

and regrowth

-oOo-

My March dress for Dress up 2010 Challenge

was inspired by Spring.

I used a bird and floral printed paper background, added some, leaf ribbon, sheer ribbon,lace, assorted flowers oh and a little bit of distressing.

-oOo-

Check out Margaret's Blog to see her fantastic March dress, and all the other dress creations... which I'm off to have a peek at, after I've posted this!!!

-oOo-

I'm building a nice little dress collection now....

..still gotta make me a little wardrobe!!

-oOo-
...And now for some Alpha inchies

We are on 'K' over at Inchy by Inch

...and I'm playing catch up yet AGAIN!!

I did make my 'J' inchie last week, but forgot to blog it!!

Anyway here are my 'J' and 'K' inchies....

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Inchy 'I' is for.....

...Impeccable Ivor .

-oOo-

We are now at 'I' in the alpha inchy challenge over at

Inchy by Inch

-oOo-

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Catching up again with Inchies, matchboxes and paper dolls

Hello ......

I'm still here!

Life has been a little hectic just lately! ...

but I've still been creating....

Got a few things to show.....

First of all the Alpha inchies !! Over at inchy by inch we are up to the letter 'H', and being as I'm playing catch up again!! Here are my 'G' and 'H' inchies, I'll try my hardest to get 'I' done on time next week!!

..as promised, here is the little altered matchbox,that I made for Bee for our swap, I've made a few more different ones, so if anyone fancies a trade, drop me a email!

You can see the lovely 'rose' matchbox that I received from Bee in a previous post.

..Now, for something really exciting, I got to know Sherry through the One World One Heart Blog Hop, and I was fascinated with her paper dolls, so I was so thrilled when she said she would trade a paper doll with me..

-o0o-

So..... meet 'Fritzi' the Festive Fairy...

...Isn't she just fabulous!!

this is the paper doll that Sherry sent too me,

...a little birdie told her that I liked Glitter.

and Wow, she is definitely full of Sparkle!

Fritzi now has pride of place in my craft room!

-o0o-

Check out Sherry's Blog to see more stunning paper dolls!

-o0o-

Well, now to my very first paper doll that I made for Sherry, for our swap....

I was a little nervous swapping with Sherry, because she has created lots of beautiful paper dolls

but I was quite pleased with my first attempt...

..I'm really into shabby-chic at the mo as you can see.

...meet her Shabby Sister! - doll #2

got a little carried away, and had to make another paper doll for myself!

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!....

-0O0-

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.

-0O0-

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!!)

-0O0-

...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!

-0O0-

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...

-0O0-

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Inchy D is for....

....Dancing Daphne

-oOo-

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

-oOo-

Thanks for looking!

Jan x

Inchy C is for....

....Charming Charlie

Join in the alpha inchy

challenge, over at

Inchy by Inch

This week is the letter C

-oOo-

Thanks for Looking.

Jan x

Inchy B is for....

....Bubbly Brenda!!

Brenda is having fun blowing bubbles!

Join in the alpha inchie challenge over at Inchy by Inch

This week is the letter B

Thanks for looking!

Jan x

Inchy A is for.......

Abandoned Archie......

Awww poor Archie :(

Over at inchy by Inch Fiona is trying something a little bit different,

instead of a different inchy theme each week,

it will be a alpha inchy challenge

.....starting this week with the letter A.

I'm challenging myself to do all my alphabet inchies A-Z

in a 'shabby-vintage' theme.

I'm so glad that Fiona has kept her Inchy blog going :)

some talented inchy artists on there!

so come on and join the inchy fun...

the more the merrier!!

Thanks for looking!

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

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