Monday 2 December 2013

Welcome to the 2013 Visions of Sugarplums Christmas blog event and Jane's Journal's Countdown to Christmas 2013

Hello everyone and I am just so excited that we are finally in December and it is now the real countdown to Christmas, just 23 days to go. For those of you who are first time visitors here at Jane's Journal you are most welcome and it is lovely to see you here. I live in Surrey in the U.K and I am taking part in Lori's annual Visions of Sugarplums blog event. There are prizes to win every single day just by leaving a comment at the end of my post. If you visit the other blogs which are taking part you will get additional entries for additional comments. And during the week Lori will be adding up all the comments left and enter them into a grand draw. So do get over to Lori and join in with all the fun.

I will be sharing with you today and on Thursday some of my Christmas traditions at this most special time of the year. I have always loved everything to do with Christmas, not just the day itself but the run up too. I am known in my family as Mrs Christmas ;0)

As yesterday was the first day of December it was time to put up my Advent calendar. I have put up an advert calendar every year for more than 50 years and they just are the perfect start to Christmas. I have never really grown up I suppose. I have such fond childhood memories of the old vintage German ones which would sparkle in the darkness of my room.  They are hard to buy these days but I was lucky enough to go to the annual Christmas fair in Nuremberg a few years back and brought several home.
If you ever get a chance to make a trip to the Christmas markets in Germany they are so very special. This was a photo I took of part of the market back then.
Below is my advent calendar I have hung up this year.

I just love the 1960s vintage feel to it. Here are some close ups








I have opened the number 2 window today ;0)









I also buy advent calendars for my 2 grown up children. My darling daughter has this cute Robin one, it's very apt this year with all her washing for Daisy (my baby granddaughter)
and it's the BFG for my dear son
and this year of course there is a tiny one for our Daisy. I think her Mummy will need to open the windows for the moment.
And yes of course I have a photo from our Wednesday night babysitting...she was such a good girl for her Granddad and me ;0)

If you have an advent calendar I wonder what was in your window today?

I obviously love to make my own cards for Christmas and the one I am going to share today has a great vintage feel to it.
I am also delighted to see that the Royal Mail Christmas stamps are out. I think that using a Christmas stamp just adds to the pleasure of sending a card. These are the images for 2013.

 My card today is a Design team GD card for Ignacio using one of his wonderful Nicecrane Images.It is from the Adorable Christmas sheet  here . Every one of the images on this sheet are gorgeous and I have made several cards using these images.
This is such a classic vintage  image of a child anticipating Christmas whilst her Mum reads to her. I have already been reading to darling Daisy even though she is only 3 weeks old today.

I have used a snowflake embossing folder on the black backing card and also the white frame I made. The amazing Santa and his reindeer die cut is from Cheery Lynn and the candles are Marianne. The sentiment is Lili of the Valley.
I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Make it Monday Linky Party #169
Lexi's Creations Christmas
Bunny Zoe Vintage/shabby chic
Crafty Sentiments anything goes
Divas by Design use some red
Cheery Lynn Tis the season
4 Crafty chicks Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut Light it up
Totally Papercrafts Ho Ho Holidays
Jelly Park Christmas
Allsorts Inspired by a Christmas song or carol My song is the delightful Kate Bush's "December will be magic" and it certainly will be this year ;0)
Crafty Catz Santa Claus is coming to town
My Mum's Craft shop Christmas


Do remember to leave a comment here before you leave as the more comments you leave on the different blogs taking part in Visions of Sugarplums the more chances you have of winning Lori's Grand Prize as well as the daily prize.
This is the full list of blogs taking part this year.


Thanks for visiting, I will be back again on Thursday for my 2nd Visions Of  Sugarplums post but remember, there are posts up every day until Friday from other bloggers.

Bye for now,

Jane x

33 comments:

  1. wow i love it and that baby sure is adorable...hugs

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  2. Great post Jane and loved reading about your Christmas traditions. Your card is gorgeous, beautiful image and design and Daisy looks so content and alert. Have a great week.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  3. super photos and card Jane. Daisy is getting cuter by the day! She's gorgeous! My girls have a fabric advent calendar and one with pockets that get filled with chocolates. So today Lucy added the fabric teddy to the Christmas tree and Penny pulled out two chocolate teddies to share with her sister! They love it! Hugs rachel xx

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  4. Gorgeous card and image. Visiting from MIM..Loz

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  5. Aawwwe to everything.....the lovely advent calendars , your gorgeous card and especially that cute little sugarplum of a granddaughter! :)
    Hope the weekend went well!
    Have a good week, Hb is off work today so we are off out for lunch and a spot of shopping!
    V xxx

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  6. What a wonderful holiday keepsake. Good luck and thanks for joining in on the fun at Cheery Lynn Designs challenge.

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  7. OMG Jane,,,,,,love your calendar,,,I assume you cut out it every day love the idea....such a creative one, and these postal stamps are great my friend, I am falling in lovw with your creation with my pict,,,,so vintage, so elegant , so adorable,,,, You are Rock Jane,.

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  8. Oh, dear Daisy Jane.. what a little darling! I've never had an advent calendar in my whole life. But I kind of wished I'd gotten some for my little grandsons.

    *********************************************
    *H*A*P*P*Y* * *H*O*L*I*D*A*Y*S*!*!*!*
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    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  9. lovely card and thanks for sharing with us at crafty sentiment

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  10. This new visitor/follower sure did ENJOY your delightful post, pictures and Xmas card on todays hop! Darling granddaughter! Advent calendars are so fun! Thank you for sharing!

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  11. Fabulous advent calenders. I love your Christmas card - wonderful die cuts! TFS

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  12. Gorgeous card and image. oh what a beautiful baby.. Merry Christmas
    hugs
    Dottie

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  13. Thanks for sharing all those lovely things with us. Thanks for entering your lovely card for CHNC challenge 153 - you could also enter this into my CHNC challenge extra for December - I'd love to see it there too. x

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  14. What a beautiful card and a perfect creation to show one of Ignacio's lovely images.

    Toni xx

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  15. Enjoyed your pictures - what a cutie pie and your card is beautiful! So glad you are a part of Visions of Sugarplums!

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  16. Lovely card, thanks for sharing with us at Crafty Catz. Naomi x

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  17. Very cool and fun Advent calendars, Jane. My favorite one is Milly's and the robins. I have a German calendar for my house, too.
    Looks like you had a great time baby sitting Daisy.
    Happiest December and counting down,
    from very snowy America,
    Anne and all xxx
    PC22 etsy

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  18. Gorgeous card....love your reds...thanks for joining us at Divas by Design!
    ♥♥♥ Margreet

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  19. I love the birds sitting on the clothes line. Pretty baby.
    thanks for sharing all of the calendars (and the baby's picture)

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  20. Hi Jane! I love your card and Christmas Calendars! I found Little My today from my Moomins Advent Calendar. Sophie is so cute and looks enjoying her time with grandpa! I'm sure you enjoy baby sitting! Hugs! x Teje

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  21. Wonderful! Love the feel of this card and the pictures on here are awesome, great job. Oh and the gold candle. Great job. Thanks for playing our Christmas challenge at 4 Crafty Chicks!

    Leanne DT@4CC!

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  22. I am so happy to have popped by your blog today! Thank you for sharing the photo of Daisy (what a sweetie!) and the photos of the advent calendar.

    Your card is beautiful! The candle dies really look fantastic. It adds such depth to the card's image. It looks like they are reading by candlelight!

    Have a wonderful day!

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  23. I love the classic vintage image and what a wonderful Christmas project you've created here! I just love it all! Thanks for playing along in this week's Cheery Lynn Designs challenge! -Karen

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  24. I enjoyed all the Christmassy things in this post, Jane! The advent calendars are a real trip down memory lane, and your card is gorgeous.....and your little baby Daisy is so adorable, she will make your Christmas even more magical this year!
    Helen x

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  25. Spied your card at MIM and dropped by for a closer look! Lovely!
    Hugz,
    Chana

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  26. A gorgeous creation! Thanks for playing at MMCS Monthly Challenge! xxx

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  27. It's always so delightful to come and visit you Jane!
    I love ADvent Calendars as well and although I had fun making one for Lily this year, I must confess, I miss the "bought" version ;)

    We have a genuine German Christmas Market on the Dailey Plaza, downtown Chicago. I hope to go and if I do, I will make sure I include pictures on my blog.

    I love your darling card and thank You for sharing that sweet picture of Baby Daisy Jane!

    Hugs~

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  28. Beautiful card Jane..and love your advent calendar too..
    Thanks for sharing with us at Make it Monday..

    Luv CHRISSYxx

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  29. Beautiful festive card Jane. Thank you so much for joining us at Allsorts for our Inspired by a Christmas Song/Carol challenge x

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  30. Thanks for playing along with us at Totally Papercrafts this week with your beautiful card.
    Wendy xx

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  31. I love the classic Christmas project you've created!Beautiful! Thanks for playing along in this week's Cheery Lynn Designs challenge! -Susan

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  32. lovely project Jane & precious baby!
    glad to have been in the hop with you this week!
    Merry Christmas

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  33. Lovely to see your calendars Jane, mine isn't nearly so nice to look at, but it contains dark Lindt chocolates so that keeps me happy. Great card entry, I like the santa and sleigh. Bethx

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Jane x