Saturday 29 December 2018

My review of 2018

We are into the last few days of 2018 and as in previous years I find this a really good time to reflect on the year that has past. I am so inspired by Mother Nature and always love to catch her at different time of the year in my photographs.
I think this is best shown as collages of the seasons I have lived this year...

Winter
...and yes we did have snow in February this year when the Beast from the East hit hard. Luckily it did not last too long. 
Spring
We had a cold start to spring but once April arrived things started warming up to produce some gorgeous spring flowers.
 Summer
I will never forget our long hot summer, the best since 1976. It surpassed the temperatures and hours of sunlight for that year too. We spent so many relaxing hours outside. My pots of flowers this year were magnificent thanks to the weather.
Autumn
 The long hot summer morphed into an Indian summer and we saw such spectacular colours during our delightfully warm, and sunny autumn.
Mother Nature really was at her best for 2018, it was a year to remember.

For my crafting I also put together a collage of some of my paper crafting projects...even I am a little startled at my stats because this is less than everything crafting I made. I also made quite a bit of jewellery at my silversmithing class.

I made;

348 one of a kind cards for Dotty's Teahouse where I sell my cards in Carshalton.
51 Christmas cards.
86 Design Team inspirational projects for my 3 Design Teams; Country View challenges, Visible Image and STAMPlorations.
2 birthday cakes: a tool box cake for Jack and a Unicorn cake for Daisy.
I was published 7 times during 2018 in 3 different crafting magazines, I made a least one project (for one I made 3 ) for each.
1 holiday album after our magical family holiday in Majorca.
At least 25 projects for TV, blog hops, Facebook lives, Creativation in the USA,  etc etc for Visible Image and STAMPlorations.
1 set of handmade Christmas crackers.

Gosh!

Here is a small collage just showing a tiny sample of my 400+ paper crafting projects during the year.


So my last project to share for 2018 has to be a card, as that is where my main crafting love lies. It is also a nod to Billy, my sweet cat who is my avatar and shares my blog and home.

I used the brilliant Curious cat Visible Image stamp set. I made a distress ink background and then coloured the eyes green and the nose pink, just like my Billy's.


Here's a close up
I would like to enter it into the following challenges;

Allsorts Thanks a bunch
Cute card Thursday 2/3 anything goes
Simon says stamp Wednesday anything goes
The house that stamps built 1/3 anything goes
As you like it 1/3 anything goes
Creative moments 1/3 anything goes

My card is also dedicated to you, my readers, as a thank you for all your support, visits and kind comments you have taken to leave me here during 2018. Some of you do this for every post I write 💕
My card is for sale at Dotty's Teahouse, Carshalton High Street, SM5 2AE. Dotty's is open every day other than New Year's Day.

I will be back on New Year's day as being the 1st of the month it's also time for my first design team post  for 2019 for Country View Challenges.

I will close with a very thoughtful quote from Edith Lovejoy Pierce;

We will open the book. 
Its pages are blank.
We are going to put
 words on them ourselves.

The book is called Opportunity
 and its first chapter is New Year's day.

See you on "the other side" and enjoy seeing in the new year in whatever way you enjoy. For those of you who have found 2018 challenging I hope that 2019 works out kinder for you. Life is definitely a journey and not a destination.

Take care.

Bye for now,

Jane x

15 comments:

  1. Lovely post Jane...in every possible way. beautiful photos, beautiful makes and a lovely last card for 2018. Thank you for sharing your year and may 2019 be a Happy, Peaceful and Healthy one for you and your family. xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful look back, thanks for sharing and thanks for entering the Allsorts challenge, xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. My you've been a busy girl! Congratulations on all your accomplishments and thanks for sharing them with all the rest of us. I'm glad you had a happy Christmas and wishing you a spectacular New Year too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Jane.. it's pretty amazing when you look at a whole year of your creativity and wonderful successes in your craft! Bravo on getting published and all the recognition you've received for your amazing art and craft!

    *:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
      *H*A*P*P*Y* *N*E*W* *Y*E*A*R*!*
    *:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. A really lovely background and love the way you have incorporated the cats face. Thank you for joining our 'Thanks a Bunch' challenge at Allsorts.

    Kath x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my Jane, those nature collages are stunningly beautiful, you have captured the seasons perfectly!!
    And wow to your crafting achievements for 2018 ... a-maz-ing and everyone brilliant.
    Here's to another crafty year!!
    Happy new year my lovely friend,
    V x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good evening! !
    It is 9:30 PM on 30th Japan time now.
    It is the custom of Japan's year end.
    In the year end, we say “Yoi otoshi wo” to each other wishing for the coming
    year to be pleasurable.
    The New Year season is the most significant season for the Japanese.
    All the Christmas décor is switched to the New Year’s in a blink.
    Major New Year icons are the pine tree, bamboo, plums and so on. All of them are symbols of good fortune and longevity.

    ReplyDelete
  8. A wonderful assortment of photos Jane, and your kitty card is just amazing! Thank you so much for sharing with us at Allsorts challenge this time, please do play along again soon!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow!! What a fabulous card!! I love the background; it looks really cool with the cat face! Thanks for playing with The House That Stamps Built.

    ReplyDelete
  10. A beautiful montage for all of the seasons and another to share your amazing cards and journal pages, they fantastic collected together in this way. Lovely to see Billy looking very relaxed and happy and your newest beautiful card.
    Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year and may it be filled with peace, love and many more creative moments and memory making. hugs Brenda xxx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your card is stunning and beautiful quote. Glad you joined us at The House That Stamps Built! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow that kitty card is incredible! Love the watercolor design and thanks for sharing your wonderful selection of photos!! Happy 2019! Thanks for sharing your creation with us at Cute Card Thursday Challenges! HUGS, *Vicki* (DT)

    ReplyDelete
  13. What an effective background for the cat stamp. Thanks for sharing with us at Allsorts Challenge.
    Lynn x
    DT

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fabulous kitty card. It's lovely with the watercolour effect.
    Happy New Year
    Hugs
    Annette - Netty's Cards
    xx
    Proud to design for :
    Lili of the Valley,
    Dies to Die For,
    As You Like It Challenge.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, great project!
    Thank you for joining Creative Moments.
    Hope you have a creative 2019!
    Hugs from Africa💖
    Olga

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for leaving a comment; I really enjoy reading every single one of them.

To comply with the new Data Protection legislation (GDPR) May 2018 I wish to state that any comments left here are with your consent that your name & comment are visible to anyone who visits my blog and that you accept that your personal information is being used for that specific purpose.

Jane x