Wish upon a Star

Good morning,

Well, both my girlies have been in Zante together since Tuesday and I can't believe how quiet it's been without them! I grumble at all the noise when they are both in, but I sure have missed them both. They will be back next Tuesday evening, so I'm looking forward to hearing about all their adventures (well, maybe not all of them!) Lol.

Over at Fantasy Stampers today we see the start of the next challenge and the new theme is

'WISH UPON A STAR'

So we are looking for any of your project using stars - here's what I created for my DT inspiration ...

Think I went a bit overboard with the stars - but you get the idea!

The backing papers, stamped image and sentiment are all LOTV. The stamp is aptly called 'Wish upon a Star' and is coloured with my Promarkers (and a little added glitter sparkle). The 'Wish' letters are cut using an old Sizzix alphabet die, then added to my card. 

Why not pop over to the challenge blog HERE and check out some more fab inspiration from my design team.

Hugz, Jan xx

My News

Good afternoon to you all,

Well, for those of you that don't know, I can finally reveal my news now ...

As many of you know, I have worked in primary school for a long time now, and although my job has been challenging at times, I absolutely love working with the children.

But, I had a bit of a bombshell dropped on me at the end of May that literally knocked me sideways. At a meeting just before the half term break in May our Headteacher announced that she was planning to re-structure the staff in September and had to lose one of her support staff. As there are three Higher Level Teaching Assistants at the school, they had decided to reduce to just two posts in September. And what job do I do - yep, a HLTA!

At the time I went into a flat spin, literally driving home in tears - but after much careful thought and consideration, I decided that it was time for me to go and I have taken the voluntary redundancy package they had on offer. So as from September, I will be unemployed - now that's a scary thought!

It was a very emotional day yesterday, my last day at school, but I finished at 3.30pm for the very last time, leaving with so many memories - lots of them good (and a few bad ones too). I was bombarded with cards and prezzies and flowers and so many good wishes (and lots of hugs from the children too). So I can't be sad, but only time will tell whether I made the right decision.

I'm not sure what the next chapter includes, but for the time being I am going to spend some time at home after the horrible year we've had here, which began last June with my hubby being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (he has had to take medical retirement) and finishing with losing my mum earlier this year. There have been lots of other things in between too, which have just added up to a really bad year. I'm now working on the principle that 'things can only get better', but without a pay check every month I think we will have to tighten our belts a little!

I have lots of ideas that I want to pursue, but first I need to get my head in order and figure out what is the best route to follow. I am hoping that my crafting will play a big role in my future and I am looking at ways to expand my horizons whilst incorporating my addiction (sorry, hobby)!

But until then, I have a 'To Do' list as long as my arm that needs some attention (all those jobs I was too tired to do while I was working!) So as they say, it's 'onwards and forwards' for me - who knows what the future will hold (but I am secretly hoping it has some good things to offer).

Big hugz, Jan xx

Ink it Up

Hello there,

It's Friday again already, so it's time for our next letter over at the Alphabet Challenge. Caz has chosen the theme for the letter 'I'

'INK IT UP'

So, here's what I made for my DT inspiration - I loved getting all inky with this one ...

I began with a piece of white cardstock and added some texture paste through my brick wall stencil. 

Once dry I used my ink dusters to apply Aged Mahogany and Tea Dye distress inks to cover the whole piece of card, leaving a lighter section in the middle.

Next I stamped the flowers at the bottom, together with the leaves in the top corner. I added a little colour to the flowers using a pink Promarker and then applied a few touches of glitter. 

The sentiment is from Inkylicious and is stamped using black archival ink.

I thought the two little dragonfly brads just finished the piece of nicely.

Hope you will come and join us with your own 'inky' creations - the challenge is open until 7th July.

Hugz, Jan xx

Smile and be Happy

Good morning,

I'm back today with a new DT project for the next challenge over at Cardz 4 Galz, and this week it was my turn to choose the theme. So here goes with

'PINK AND BROWN'

This is one of my favourite colour combos - here's what I made for a little inspiration ...

The design paper is from my stash and is layered with brown cardstock. I used my Stampin' Up punch to make the little owl and added a piece of pink and brown ribbon to match. The stamped sentiment is from a freebie set which I got on a magazine a few months ago.

Why not pop over to the challenge and check out some more fab inspiration from the Galz team.

Hugz, Jan xx

At the Movies

Happy Tuesday,

I hope you all had a good weekend and all the dads out there enjoyed their Father's Day. I lost my dad when I was a teenager, but have a wonderful step dad who has really been through the mill after losing my mum earlier this year. It was good to see him smile when we took him out for a carvery lunch on Sunday.

I have a new DT project today for the next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Joan has chosen the theme of

'AT THE MOVIES'

Now, I did struggle with this one a little - but my trusty little 'birds' came to the rescue. Here's what I created for a little inspiration ...

It's fairly 'Clean and Simple' with a little masking to help my stamping.  First I stamped the section of 'film strip' using black archival ink. Then I masked the top and bottom before stamping just sections of two of the 'Crazy Birds' by Tim Holtz - I love these little critters. I had to move the masking to cover the film strip and then stamped the third bird as if he is looking down at the others. I added some shading with my graphite pencil, and just touches of colour around their beaks and eyes.

My movie title 'The Birds' was created on my pc and shaded again with the pencil. I didn't realises until I checked, but the Hitchcock movie was made in 1963 - same as me! Now there's a coincidence - I feel rather an old 'bird' at the moment too! Lol.

Hope you will come and join us with your own movie themed projects.

Hugz, Jan xx

Teddy Bears' Picnic

Good morning,

I have a cute little Fizzy Moon bear to show you today, as we begin the next challenge over at Fantasy Stampers. The new theme is

'TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC'

So, all you have to do is use a bear - here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I used design papers from my stash and added the stamped 'Fizzy Moon with Flower' image as a focal point. He is coloured with my Promarkers and I added a little button in the centre of the flower for some extra dimension.

Embellishments include a stamped LOTV sentiment, some peach organza ribbon, a few pearl flowers (cut from one of my pearl strings), some die-cut flowers and a few adhesive pearls.

Hope you can join us this time - why not pop over and check out all the other bears at the 'picnic' over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

Time for a little Music

Hello there,

What an absolutely rubbish weekend - I started with a summer cold last Friday, which has lingered around all weekend and we've had so much rain here I haven't been able to get out into the garden either. We also had a sad day on Sunday as it would have been mum's birthday (the first one without her), so everyone was feeling a little down hearted.

I have my next DT project for you today, for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week it was my turn to choose the theme. So here goes with ...

'MUSIC'

Here's what I created for a little inspiration ...

A piece of music design paper, some embossing through my favourite 'notes' embossing folder. A fancy die-cut treble clef and a little stamped sentiment - all in black and cream, nice and simple.

Hope you can join us with your own 'musical' creations this week.

Hugz, Jan xx