Christmas in July aka Billy's Blog

Hello everyone, Billy here. Just for today I have renamed Jane's Journal  Billy's Blog.

 Jane asked my to write today's blog post as she is very busy in her studio and wants me to be the one who has to admit that the crazy time of the year in the card making world known as Christmas in July has arrived. Now don't groan, you know that Jane's other name is Mrs Christmas and she noticed that the new Christmas crafts are coming into the shops. One of her favourite stamp manufactures, Lili of the Valley have even started sneak peeks on their blog and already she is straining not the break that promise of ,"I don't need any more stamps". I heard her say that last year and look what happened. Cheery Lynn are bringing out new dies and she has already earmarked a fab icicle one. Also Tim Holtz has started showing his new ranges and she has been drooling over those. That wish list of hers never stops growing.

She has decided that she will make her Christmas in July card today. Yes,  one of the hottest days of the year, it's forecast to top 30c here in sunny Surrey. Whilst she finishes it off in her studio she asked me to show you how things are growing in her little garden.

 This pot is nearest her studio, I think it might even inspire the card she is making. I can hear her radio playing and goodness me I think she is also humming the odd Christmas carol.

Whilst she is not looking I think I will have a quick roll around in the sun on the patio; no one can see me.

Did someone notice..quick, I had better get back to this blogging business.

 I think you might recognize this tree below, it's the one which they take inside each
year and hang chocolates on. It's madness isn't it, trees belong in gardens don't they? I think Jane will be delighted to see the new green growth on it.

She also is rather pleased with how the cosmos and petunia  are blooming

I think I can hear Jane calling now, she has finished her Christmas in July card and has asked me to show it to you...I'm delighted to see that a cat like me features on it........it even has a pink nose just like mine.

As she was super busy she used one of the Lili of the Valley printed die cut shapes, these are great when you don't have time to get out the Promarkers to colour an image. She also used a LOTV sentiment. Here are a couple of close ups

 The border is a Cheery Lynn lace border she cut with glitter card. The doily she used around the focal  is also Cheery Lynn.

She would like to enter her card into the following challenges

Lili of the Valley Take 2
Cheery Lynn Beautiful Borders
Winter Wonderland Three of 3 I have 3 colours (red, green and gold), 3 layers for the focal (2 scallop circles and a doily) and 3 types of legs; the girls legs, the cats legs and the legs of the stool the girl is standing on!
ABC Christmas N is for Numbers my number is 25
Sparkles Monthly Christmas in July
Artistic Inspirations 100th challenge anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Glam it up I have glammed it up with my glitter card
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper anything goes
Divas by Design Christmas in July
As you like it favourite sentiment and why the reason this is my favourite is that my favourite season is Christmas and the words on this LOTV sentiment just say it all!#
Inky Chicks Christmas in July


Now you may wonder why Jane was too busy to be here as she needed to finish off her card. Well  today is even more special in Jane's eyes than Christmas in July............do you know why?
....well today is my 6th Birthday.........yes I am getting a very grown up man. And I shall take a seat here and wait for Jane to finish so that we can spend the rest of my birthday together. I am told a little treat may well feature in my food dish. I may also need to find some shade later as my furry coat is a little hot in this weather.

Happy Birthday to me...this is the life. Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfect...

Jane will be back soon and summer crafting projects will be restored until September when she will start her Christmas card making in earnest.

Thanks for visiting, keep cool for those of you in Southeast England.

Bye for now,

Billy x (and Jane x)