Thursday 19 January 2012

A Ladybug (or is it a ladybird?) friend

Us bloggers and craft makers know there is a really friendly bunch of people out in cyber space or the www as it is more commonly known. I have made some really close friends I have met over the nearly 2 years I have been blogging. I met my dear friend Mia out in Finland via Etsy nearly 3 years ago and through reading her blog for about a year encouraged me to jump into the blogging world. I have not looked back.

We often wonder how we meet new blogging friends, they are often via a 3rd party blogger or sometimes we can't even remember...we just meet them! Late last year I was admiring a card on a challenge blog and I clicked on it and was taken to the blog of a lady called Kerry who owns Ladybug Crafts Ink, a small UK company who make lovely stamps. I was intrigued by the name ladybug as here in the UK we call them ladybirds and indeed one of my early blog posts was all about ladybirds. You can read about it here. It turns out that Kerry is from Canada originally which is a clue to her using the name Ladybug not Ladybird.

I decided to follow her blog and she was having a birthday giveaway which I entered. That was just before Christmas. I got behind with my blog reading as I was so busy only to find that I had won it but  I read that as I had not come forward Kerry needed to draw a new winner. I was so disappointed as I rarely win anything. I emailed Kerry mainly to apologise for not catching up with my blog reading.  She kindly told me that if the new winner failed to come forward then the parcel would be mine. She even said that if they new winner did come forward she would still send me a little something. How kind was that?

Well luck was on my side as the 2nd drawn winner did not make contact so  look what arrived in the post last week......



Isn't her wrapping paper wonderful. Brilliant bold ladybirds.

And inside was.................

















Not just one but four of her lovely Ladybug Crafts Ink stamps.

These are really good stamps, they cling brilliantly to my acrylic blocks and stamp beautifully.


I have been having a play .....
















 I used most of the Promarkers I own for colouring these!












I even made my first few cards and this one is off to a friend's daughter for her 19th Birthday next week.





I used some new ribbons I bought. I love this lush black and the ribbon tape measure I thought was great fun. I fixed the tape at 19 where the sentiment is so that it shows her age.











I would like to enter this into a few challenges.

Ladybug Craft Ink; Bows
Passion for Promarkers 132- humour
Joanna Sheen Celebrations
Paper Sundaes, Choose a favourite previous theme I have chosen a challenge from last year called "How Charming" They are having a fun 2nd birthday blog hop..take a peep.
Party Time Tuesdays Happy Birthday
I love Promarkers Anything goes #100
Creative craft crew Seeing red #2

Now Kerry and I also have something else in common, we both have daughters getting married this year. I have a rare "free" non work day today so I am heading out to the studio to play with the glass lampwork beads I have had made for my jewellery for the Big Day. I hope some sample colours will also be arriving in the post today from another great glass lampwork buddy of mine. We are going to choose the bridesmaids beads from these. All very exciting.  It is also my dear Hbs birthday tomorrow and we are treating ourselves to lunch up in London at a Mayfair Brasserie...that should be lovely and beats work! We have both taken the day off. Must dash then, presents to wrap, jewellery to create.....

Have a great day and a great weekend (and thanks again Kerry, my new Ladybird (Bug) friend ;0)

Bye for now,

Jane x

36 comments:

  1. What a great giveaway win Jane!! Just proves that it was meant to be yours all along!
    Love the new card, very girly. :)
    Happy Birthday to your hubby, it's my son's birthday today, so we're off to a Thai reataurant tonight.
    I've been off-line all week as my laptop has been very poorly, so I'm just catching up with everybody today, I really need to do a blog post!!
    Happy Thursday,
    V x

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  2. It seemed to have my name on didn't it Vivienne. Glad you are back on line, technology is a pain when it goes wrong. Enjoy your son's birthday today. It is obviously a birthday time of year!
    Jane x

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  3. The stamps are wonderful Jane...such a lovely Giveaway!..I love the 19th birthday card...my daughters would love this...definitely a winner!
    Have fun in your studio today...so looking forward to seeing all the pretty pieces that you are sure to create....making for your lovely daughter's wedding must give you so much inspiration...very special!
    Happy birthday to dearest Hb too..I am sure you are going to have a fabulous day tomorrow!
    Susan x

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  4. Hi Susan, thanks, these stamps are a very different style for me but I really love them. Then are great for older daughters, my (nearly 26 yr old) girlie would love this style too!
    I am enjoying my "playing" in my Studio today and the sun is streaming in at the moment ;0)
    Jane x

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  5. Cute, cute - LOVE your coloring; all those images look magnificent! Great creating; can't wait to see more!!

    Hugs,
    Michele

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  6. Thanks for visiting me here Michele, they are really fun stamps to work with.
    Jane x

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  7. really darling stamps, and you've made such an adorable card!!!!

    thanks for partying with us this week at PTT!

    Holly
    PTT DT

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  8. Thanks Holly, they are great stamps aren't they.
    Jane x

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  9. Hello dear friend,

    I am so happy we found each other via www-world, it's so rare to find wonderful friends when you get older, it seems to be just work-home-work... It's been lovely three years and here's to many more together to come!

    Your new cards are beautiful, Jane, and the stamps are great, so pretty and versatile!

    This year will be wonderful with the wedding, I can't wait all the posts you'll make of the preparations and of course of the BIG DAY too...Oh my!

    Happy weekend soon, dear, and many kisses to Billy again! We're off to spa tomorrow!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  10. Hello my dear Mia, you are a great friend and it has indeed been such a fun nearly 3 years. Your work is so inspiring as is your blog.... Have a wonderful mini break and a really relaxing time. "Speak" soon,
    Billy sends a kiss and a purr to you in snowy Finland ;0)
    Jane x

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  11. You were the perfect winner for that giveaway! You do brilliant work on your cards. I just put up a blog post about the handpainted cards I do. Fun stuff!
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  12. Hi Teresa, lady luck was on my side ;0) I saw your post on your painting....very clever work! Enjoy the weekend,
    Jane x

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  13. Hi Jane! Wow - you were twice lucky and your present is fantastic! I love the ladybugs and your prints and a new card are so beautiful!
    I try to remember how I met you ... I think we were writing comments to same blogs as Mia's!
    x Teje

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  14. I have always said Ladybug too!! Throw back from my travelling lifestyle as a kid I think!! I love your stamps, and they look brilliant with colour in them. Fantastic card, as always, and hopefully beadies will arrive today!! Laney x

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  15. I love your humour card!
    The image is funny!
    Thanks for joining our challenge at PFP:)
    Hugs from me

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  16. It's a ladybug in Ohio, but cute everywhere :) Congrats on your win!

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  17. So glad you got your giveaway gift in the end, Jane! I love ladybirds and in the past I often used to add ones in among the flowers I painted. I loved it when US customers used to ask for lots of 'ladybugs' to be included!
    Love the pretty new card too! Have a lovely weekend.
    Helen x

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  18. Hi Teje, I am fairly sure we did meet through Mia. I love visiting your blog and I'm so glad to be a blogging friend ;0)
    Jane x

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  19. I'm surprised you use the word ladybug Laney, us Brits usually call them ladybirds;0) Your lovely sample colours arrived today...I can't wait to have a play.
    Jane x

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  20. Hi Oheidia, she is a fun image isn't she.
    Thanks for visiting,
    Jane x

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  21. Ladybirds or ladybugs are really cute Linda whatever their name! Have a great weekend,
    Jane x

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  22. I was thrilled with my prize Helen. Ladybirds are great images to use in crafts. I actually have a large ladybird stamp, I must dig it out and ink it up soon. Enjoy your weekend,
    Jane x

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  23. Congratulations on your win Jane, you are a very lucky lady! Glad you loved the images, you have made a beautiful card with your winnings!! Thanks so much for joining in with our "Bows" challenge at LCI this week, good luck! Pami x

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  24. A lovely card and I enjoyed reading your post too
    Thanks for joining us at the Creative Card Crew for our challenge #2, seeing Red
    Margaret :o)

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  25. Thanks Pami they are fun stamps.
    Jane x

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  26. Thanks Margaret for visiting me here and your kind comments .
    Jane x

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  27. You are so right Jane...crafting bloggers are so friendly and I too have made some amazing friends. I don't have as much time as I'd like to comment but I appreciate everyone that visits me. Wasn't I the lucky one when you saw my card on another challenge blog :-D It was sod's law you contacted me about your prize after I posted for another winner but there's no way I could not send you something. I'm glad you're enjoying the stamps and the card you've made for your friend's daughter is fabulicous. You've coloured Nikki beautifully...I love how you used the tape measure ribbon to mark the age and I'm sure I've got that circle sentiment on my wish list and have just added the die cut loopy square die lol. So thank you for finding me and for playing along at LCI's Bow challenge this fortnight. xx ps Isn't planning a wedding stressful???!!!!

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  28. Hi Kerry, it is funny how we meet isn't it. I am really glad to have met you and thanks again for my great stamps.Luckily my daughter is doing most of the wedding planning which gives me more time for the crafting bits!Have a great weekend,
    Jane x

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  29. I'm glad you won in the end, I can imagine it must have been gutting to read you had missed out the first time, the stamps are great, I know next to nothing about card making but always enjoy seeing the wonderful things you create.

    How exciting to be working on the wedding jewellery!

    Bethx

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  30. Fab card and congratulations on your win
    Lindsay xx

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  31. Beth....they really had my name on them didn't they ;0)
    Thanks for your kind comments on my latest cards, I love making them and there are SO many birthdays at this time of year for my family and friends. Happy Sunday,
    Jane x

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  32. Hi Lindsay and thanks!
    Jane x

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  33. Great funky card - love the image, what a great win! and the tape measure ribbon is fab too. Thanks for joining us at I ♥ Promarkers this week.
    Pauline x

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  34. Thanks Pauline I am on a lucky roll. The tape measure ribbon is great fun isn't it!
    Jane x

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  35. Wow! Lucky you, what a fab pressie!!!! Love what you have done with them as well... Thanks for joining us at LCI this week...

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  36. Thanks Catherine, it was a great pressie wasn't it. I really love Kerry's stamps.
    Jane x

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