Monday 13 August 2012

The Golden Olympics and my giveaway

The 2012 Olympics came to a close on Sunday and what an incredible games it was. I am so very proud of how GB hosted the games and also how our amazing athletes came away with so many medals.

 29 gold
 17 silver
 19 bronze.

What an achievement this was and we came 3rd overall in the medals table.

Well done team GB, your performance will not be forgotten. There is a victory parade planned in London is September and rightly so. I am glad you all enjoyed my visit to the games in my last post.
We have a local girl, Joanna Rowsell who is one of the gold medallist cyclists. She was born at our local hospital. This young lady is a particular inspiration as she has alopecia and lost all her hair around the age of  11. My son's girlfriend knows her as they both used to swim for Surrey. She really is a most remarkable girl and a huge inspiration to people who suffer from such a distressing condition.

To honour all our team GB medallists the Post Office decided to paint a post box gold where these champions were born. So we have a  local post box  which has been painted gold in honour of  Joanna's gold medal.

How cool is that! It has caused quite a stir and many people have stopped to take a photo of it.





Those of you who were unable to visit the Olympics liked the "inside" photos I shared last week.  I promised that I would show you the mementos I bought there.












I  bought a new mug which was only available inside the Olympic Park. It reads "I was at the London 2012 Olympics" and is made by Royal Doulton so is lovely quality too. I actually have a cup of tea in it as I type this!













I also have my tickets which I treasure. I am thinking of making a small scrapbook if I get time to put these things in as they are so lovely to look back on. I even have a special "Olympic" travel ticket which was included with the ticket cost.

As you know I do like pin badges and I found a couple of beauties. One is 1 of 1 as it was made from a photo that was taken of me.....holding no less than a real Olympic torch. Coca Cola ran this shop within the Olympic park







The photo was taken and then I handed it in. The badge only took a few moments to make. It was so impressive as unlike most handmade badges it is a proper enamel one.










How about that for a rather unique badge. I have worn this lots and had lots of double takes where people see it is me on the badge! This really is one to keep.








I also bought another limited edition Coca Cola 2012 Olympics badge


































and 2 Venue only badges from the Aquatics Centre where we saw the springboard semi finals last Tuesday. So you may be asking why 2 badges...as they were hard to find.

Well.....one of them is the first prize for my promised 2nd Bloggerversary giveaway. This is a little overdue as it happened on 26 July but with the wedding etc I did not have a chance to sort this out.


As it is 2 years since I started blogging I am offering a 2nd prize too. The 2nd prize winner will win a bag charm of their choice! Just leave a comment at the bottom of this post and let me know the colour/theme you would like and I will try to make something appropriate. There are lots of "sold" or for sale bag charms in my  Etsy shop here and here are a couple of recent commissions to wet your appetite;




A pair for an owl lover...






















and one for a Sewing Queen!!


















Yes I have even started on my Christmas stock ;0)
















My giveaways are always open to everyone.
You do not need to be a follower but it is really lovely to see how many new friends have joined me recently.  You are all so welcome here.

So for my card challenge today; again I wanted something joyful to sing out the happiness that I have experienced during the Olympics and also for 2 wonderful years of blogging.

This is one of my all time favourite Lili of the Valley stamps called Dandelion Clock. This card is up for sale in my Etsy shop here



I love using blue and pink together. I coloured her using my Promarker pens and highlighted using my Prismacolor pencils. I used papers from my stash.All the sentiments including the tags are from Lili of the Valley. I also used blue ribbon and a pink bow. There are 2 Prima paper flowers secured with a brad and I add some bling to her headdress and flower with Stickles glitter glue.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges;

Divas by Design #47 for a female
Papercrafting Journey anything goes
Make it Monday Linky party #102
4 Crafty chicks #102 up, up and away
Cute Card Thursday #229 tag you're it
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenge #49 summer fun
Penny Black and more August challenge, whiskers and/or wings



There is lots of treasure here in my post and I hope to share some of it with you too. Remember to add in your comment what colour and theme you would like to have for your bag charm if you would like to enter my giveaway. It will close on the last day of the month, 31 August. Do feel free to come back and leave a choice as a second comment once you have had a think about it. I am a "names in the hat girl" so it will not affect the numbers as I will put one name in for each person who wants to enter.Just make sure you do this by 31 August.

Thank you everyone who visits me here at Jane's Journal  for 2 wonderful years of blogging fun. I really love reading your comments and visiting you too and I have made some really great friends. People who do not blog never ever understand how and why people blog but I know just how much love there is out there ;0)

Bye for now,

Jane x



35 comments:

  1. Congratulations on 2 years of blogging, it's always a pleasure to drop in here for a visit Jane and I am so happy to call you my friend too!!! :) x
    How brilliant to have a gold post box in your area!! The Games were amazing and I miss them already. The closing ceremony was wonderful but so sad when the flame went out. Well done indeed to Team GB the whole of the UK is so proud of them.
    Lots of lovely souvenirs too Jane the badge with the torch is great. Thank you so much for the giveaway, the pin is so special.
    If I am lucky enough to win I'll have to have a think about the bag charm. I already have a few so I'll have to come up with something new!!
    Vivienne x

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  2. Congratulations on 2 years blogging. I just started mine last week and have 2 entries so far. So its all a bit new to me. I don't even have followers..lol. I agree that we did so well in the Olympics. You are very lucky to have been able to go.
    Bye for now Lou x

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  3. Evening Jane,

    Now where do I start, such an information packed post and so interesting to read.

    I don't think there's any contest really,it has to be that gold postbox, how lucky are you to have once close to home. The only way we will get one if I take up some sort of Olympic sport as we live in the middle of nowhere land. So I think we can call that a no-no.

    Hubby said to me over dinner but tonight it's all a bit of an anti-climax today and ir really is as it's such a wonderfully fun packed 2+ weeks, not to mention all the wonderful build up to it.

    I've been totally in awe of all wonderful athletes, they really have done us proud, as indeed had every single one from across the world who took part.

    I thoroughly enjoyed last night closing ceremony, the music was fabulous, I absolutely adored the fusion of colours of all the dancers and seeing the athletes so enjoying it all made it a perfect finale.

    I just heard on the news that we may be bidding for the Olympics in 12 years time, but in reality I can't imagine them giving it to us against a quickly. But stranger things have happened.

    Loving all your makes in this post, right from keyrings, especially love the owl ones, to your very pretty LOTV card.

    I think a better end this chapter now, the ability to just talk at a microphone has revolutionised my ability to blog, but it means I get poker carried away and I'm sure I have the early pages of a manuscript scattered around blog land.

    B x



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  4. Hi Jane, me again! How about browns and oranges and perhaps leaves for autumn (when it comes in October and not before!!!) ;)
    V x

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  5. Hi hunnie you always have such an intersting blg I love to visit and read what you have been up to!! you lead such an exciting life unlike my mundane one lol, th charms are fantastic and if I won one I would treasure it,your card is beautiful as always, have alovely evening sweets big huggies June xxxx

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  6. Fabulous post - your card is awesome. Saw at MIM today and thought I'd pop in. TFS

    http://karonskraftykorner.blogspot.ca/

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  7. The Olympics were fantastic werent they? I cant wait for the Paralympics to start!

    Fabulous giveaway, please may I be counted in?

    Helenxx

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  8. Hi Sweet Jane,
    Two years, it is amazing! Mine is coming up in September too. Where does the time go? I love all the memorabilia you bought at the Olympics! The photo pin is so great! I'm so delighted you were there for us all to enjoy your blog. If I were to be a lucky winner I would love the first owl charmer, love the tiny owl : )
    Have a lovely week and thanks for your friendship and blog.
    xoRobin❤

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  9. Loving the gold post boxes, what fun!! Fab giveaway too Jane! I love pink and green and the tea for two charms are beautiful!
    Victoria xx

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  10. Hello Jane, you posts are always full of information and this one is no exception. Top marks to the post office for honouring the gold medalists in such a fabulous way.

    Wow what a fabulous array of bag charms, gorgeous. Thank you for offering to custom make one as a prize for your 2 year blog-a-vesary. Doesn't time fly? I'd have to say if I am lucky enough to be chosen as the winner of your candy, I'd love to go pinks/purples.

    I agree, that Dandelion Clock is a fave LOTV stamp, you've made such a beautiful card from it too.

    Cheers
    Kasey ~ in Oz

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  11. Somehow I suspected you would find some prizes to take home with you after the games :) All lovely, and the bag charms wonderful, and I especially like your card. So much happiness in this post, it's nice to bask in your afterglow :)

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  12. congrats on your 2yr blogoversary....love your post and seeing all the souvenirs from the olympics...i loved every minute of the games and i am so very proud to be british .the athletes from all over the world did their countries proud...
    your card is so sweet love the colours and the image is darling
    thanks for joining us at MIM and good luck
    tracey x
    Remember, to be in the running to win the prize from our sponsor this week just leave a comment for another entry. Be sure to mention you saw them on Make It Monday. The more entries you comment on the more chances you have of winning!

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  13. Dear Jane,

    Happy birthday to Jane's Journal! It's been lovely two years (already? only? both work as I think it's been quickly yet there has been so many fantastic posts to read), and here's to many more years&posts to come!

    Please count me in to your wonderful giveaway, and any of your lovely prizes would make me smile so wide! Thank you!

    Happy Tuesday, dear friend!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  14. Congratulations Jane! These have been wonderful two years with so many lovely things and exitment!
    Congratulations to GB also for fantastic Olympic games and so many metals! Your posts have been so enjoyable!
    I don't dare to hope to win your back charm ... but if I ever would be so lucky again, you know my theme is sewing and colour turquoise!
    Have a lovely week! x Teje

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  15. Congratulations!That is amazing.Lovely giveaway,thanks for the chance.It will be hard to choose,I love owl,sewing,Christmas...they are wonderful.

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  16. Another fabulicious set of pictures Jane...I love the post boxes...what a great way to honor a local winning athlete. Congratulations on your 2 year blogaversary...just realized mine was last month...how did I miss it I wonder lol??? I would love one of your bag charms and I'm sure you can guess the theme and colour of bead I would choose...it would have to be red and a ladybug of course lol And if I don't win I'd love to commission one please :-D xx

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  17. Loving all of the pictures they are fabulous! Just loved the Olympics. Your card is super fabulous! Love the colors, papers and images. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful creation with us at 4 Crafty Chicks.

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  18. Thank you for joining us in our Up Up and away challenge at 4 Crafty Chicks, great job!

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  19. Hi Jane, how pretty is this! LoTV are one of my most favourite stamp companies ever!

    Thanks for sharing the pictures of your Olympic experience and for joining in with us at Divas by Design this week.

    Sarah

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  20. I do love your blogs Jane, I don't always comment, but I always read! This one is lovely, a gold post box, not seen one before!, fab badges and beautiful card and bag charm. I haven't watched any of the Olympics, but been following on the radio and did Google the Spice Girls end performance, what a crowd! Thanks for sharing your visits, its like being there x

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  21. I came across your card on MIM ,it caught my eye because it is one of my favorite stamps as well. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post , how lucky for you to be able to have enjoyed the Olympics " in your own backyard".
    Lisa:)

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  22. Congratulations, Jane!! Wow, how did that fly by so quickly?! I've loved visiting you and enjoying your wonderful posts..you are such a generous soul to share these gorgeous trips with us! What a treat to see the "Inside the Games" post, and to see the lasting signs of the games such as the gold post box in honor of Joanna! That is amazing. Your momentos are so fun to view..what a lovely mug and wow, the pin badge is amazing!! A definite keeper! And your lovely charms are stunning. I still get compliments from friends/relatives on the beautiful shell/lampwork bead necklace I have of yours. And the earrings! Wishing you many more wonderful years of blogging, my friend!

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  23. Congratulations Jane!
    I really enjoyed watching the Olympics and I'm missing my daily sports fix now they're all over! (until the paralympics of course!!)
    I think we have a gold postbox 10 miles away and I'm planning to go and see it at the weekend - does anyone know how long they are remaining gold coloured? until they need a new coat??
    Please enter me in your lovely giveaway! I love birds!

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  24. Hi Jane, I could not skip by without wishing you a very happy second bloggerversary! It's always a pleasure to stop in and see what fun you've been up to. I was looking for you during the televised games, so it seems fitting that you would appear on a commemorative pin- Now that's a real treasure! :o)
    Your latest "dandelion" card is a delight! Here's to many more bloggerversaries!

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  25. Such a lovely post Jane...I have to say that I really enjoyed watching the Olympics...far more than I expected...how cool to have your golden post box too!
    Congratulations on your 2 years of blogging....time flies by, doesn't it? It's always a treat to visit you.
    I would love to take part in your lovely Giveaway Jane and all your bag charms are beautiful and so if I am lucky enough to win (fingers crossed!)I would be very happy indeed with a surprise!
    Hope you are having a good week,
    Susan x
    P.S I'm off to add you to my side bar...

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  26. Great to see all the entries so far. Please remember;
    IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN MY GIVEAWAY PLEASE MENTION THIS IS YOUR COMMENT.It is also great if you give some ideas on colours/themes you like as a bag charm for the 2nd prize.
    Good luck everyone ;0)
    Jane x

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  27. What a lovely post and thanks for sharing the gold post box. Love all your memorabilia too.
    Onto the card - fab card and beautifully coloured. Thanks for sharing with us at Penny Black & More this month.
    Lynn x
    DT

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  28. Happy 2nd Bloggerversary!! I am glad to know you through your blog and shop!
    Please put my name in the hat. I LOVE the owl charms.
    Thanks for showing us your Olympic goodies and for explaining more about the "golden" post boxes.
    I had seen some on TV but did not know the whole story.
    Here's to more blogging.....

    Thanks for the giveaway.
    Anne
    PlumCreek22

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  29. Happy 2nd blog Anniversary!
    Thanks for the chance for your giveaway, please add my name on your hat :)
    Color: Brown/Gold.
    Theme: London.
    I hope someday I can visit London for watching Tennis lol.

    Hugs n Hope,
    Jill

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  30. Happy second blogaversary, Jane! How fast the time has gone! If I was lucky enough to win I would love a sewing bag charm in blue please :)
    Happy Monday!
    Helen x

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  31. A lovely card, such pretty colours. Thanks for joining us at Paper Crafting Journey

    hugs Vicky xxx

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  32. Hi Jane, I do love your bag charms immensely! My favorite is the sewing one in blues. I am so impressed with your pin with your photo on it, what a grand souvenir!! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  33. Great card.
    Thank you for joining in the Whiskers &/or Wings Challenge over at Penny Black and More @ Allsorts and good luck x Susan x

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  34. Congratulations on your second anniversary... how time flies. You certainly enjoyed your Olympics, I thoroughly enjoyed watching it on the tele and felt very proud to be British! If I am lucky enough to win your charm I would love it to be sewing related. Sewing is my big love of life... after family and friends of course.

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  35. Thanks everyone for all your kind comments. My giveaway is now closed, back tomorrow with the results.
    Jane x

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Jane x