Jane's Journal is 10 today...and has a giveaway!

Yes friends, today my blog is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Wow who could have thought that, certainly not me as I took that first tentative step all those years ago with my first post. I have made so many lovely friends over the years and even met some in the flesh too. I have had the very best time blogging and even though times are really changing I still enjoy writing Jane's Journal. I have always used my blog as my diary of all things craftyness and my love of Mother Nature. I have also give some peeps into special occasions I have celebrated over the years in my family life. We saw my daughter married, my grandchildren born and much much more. I decided from day 1 to always try to focus on the good things in life, not because bad things don't happen to me, of course they do, but I think that people enjoy a little positivity in their lives. Blogging has enabled me to document all those times and I can look back at the 1,297 (!) posts I have written. I know that a lot of my very original blogging friends have moved over to Instagram and Facebook. I must admit it is very easy and quick to share on Instagram and I do not write as many blog posts as I used to but I still enjoy writing some. 

My creative journey has been quite honestly just incredible.  10 years ago I did not share any of my papercrafting here as jewellery making was then my main hobby. I am also lover of knitting and crochet but never really get the time nowadays.  Here we are 10 years later and not only is my papercrafting my passion but my main hobby.

I am on 4 design teams; Country View Crafts, Visible Image, STAMPlorations and Creative Stamping Magazine . For the last 4 years (until closing for now but hopefully opening again soon!) I have sold over 1,000 cards in Dotty's Teahouse in Carshalton High Street. I have had my work published in Creative stamping magazine, Craft Stamper and Making Cards and I have demonstrated at Craft shows in the South of England for Jame's Dennison of Stamper's Grove. I have had my work displayed at Creativation in the USA and at Craft shows throughout the UK and also shown on TV.

It really has been a dream come true...having worked until I took retirement in  2016 as an NHS physiotherapist I would never have believed this would have happened. It has been the most exordinary journey. 

So I decided that my giveway to celebrate my 10th bloggerversary should have a mix of everything "Jane" and also a shout out to those who have made my creative journey such fun. This is what someone will win, I wish I could offer something to everyone but obviously that's never possible! 

OK to talk this through. The little piggy Artist trading card, top right (yes those who know me well know how much I love pigs) also has a little sterling silver charm, which I made, resting on it.  You can attach this to your own chain via the soldered jump ring.

The other Artist trading card is one from a recent swap. I adore ladybirds and had such fun with these Tim Holtz stamps |I bought during lockdown.  The bag charm I made is a nod to my favourite drink, tea. I am well know for enjoying my regularly cuppas, especially when outside in my studio and with Billy my sweet cat.

The bag charm has a spoon, tea cup and tea bags (of course) charms. The glass beads are artisan hand made by my lampworking friends I have made over the years.

My flower tag below was made recently during the Lockdown being inspired by Tim Holtz and the amazing Facebook Lives he gave over 16 weeks. He really is my inking hero and I am lucky enough to have attended the UK workshop he held here in the UK a few years ago. I use his distress inks in nearly every piece of paper crafting I make and the tag below is no exception, 

And finally my main Union Jack card is made up of elements from all my design teams, to thank them for all their support of my art over the years. I am so grateful to them and their belief in me. 

The Union Jack stencil is from Visible Image as are the cupcake stamps. The cup and saucer stamp is by STAMPlorations. The sentiment stamp is from a recent free set of stamps from Creative Stamping Magazine where I had a feature. (Oh and a little heads up I have a feature in the next magazine (#86) which is published in early August). The red and blue distress inks, the Stickles glitter glue and embossing powder are sold by Country View Crafts. 

 The smooth white card is sold by James of Stampers' Grove.

I always enjoy entering card challenges so I will enter this one into;

Time out 2/3 peaceful
As you like it 3/3 summer or autumn definitely  summer for me as I sit outside and craft and enjoy my tea!
A bit more time to craft 3/3 anything goes

Crafters' castle 3/3 anything goes

Crafty friends 3/3 anything goes

A gem of a challenge 3/3 anything goes

Crafty sentiments 2/3 anything goes

Through the dark room door 2/2 anything goes

Creative artiste 1/3 anything mixed media

The alphabet challenge 1/3 H for Hungry, favourite food mine has to be cake!

My giveaway is open to EVERYONE.  I will post world wide. I never have complex rules as to me a free giveaway should be just that. Just leave me a comment, mentioning that you would like to win, and your name will go into a hat. I will get my Hb to pull out a winner soon after the giveaway closes on 8th August.

However I do like giving a little "extra" to my loyal Blogger friends who have followed and supported me all the way on my blogging journey. Some have been with me from day 1, and one wonderful friend has commented on all my posts since we met a few posts in from my very first. Thanks V you are a super star. 

So, if you follow me here (and you are welcome to hit the follow button today in my sidebar) you can have a 2nd entry and if you mention this giveaway on your blog, Instagram or Facebook or share the photo just let me know and I will add a 3rd entry into the hat. Simples! I know that some people follow by email, no problem. Just let me know in your comments and you will get your extra entry/ies

Also I know a lot of people now follow me on Instagram (which I where you may have seen this post mentioned). To say thanks to those followers you can also have an extra entry. Please just let me know in your comments that you follow me on IG and I can add your extra entries in. If you want to find me over on Instagram today and follow me today this is the link. So some of you may well be able to have 4 entries into the draw. 

I think my sentiment sums up what I wish for every one of you all today and every day.

Thank you all for your friendship, your kind comments, your support and for reading Jane's Journal.

Hugs and love,

Jane

(and of course my sweetest cat and blogging avatar from day 1, Billy)

 xxx