Giveaway winner and a taste of Tuscany

Hello friends.  I am back not only with my giveaway winner but also to share some photos of our holiday.  Yes we managed to escape to Italy for a week and got home on Monday. It was such a wonderful week and where we stayed in the middle of a wine estate in Tuscany meant there was no need to socially distance as there was no one around for miles!

As the week progressed it got hotter and hotter so the pool was bliss. 

The grounds provided perfect crafting inspiration.

The only sounds were the bees buzzing and the chirrup of the crickets. 

So back to my winner. All the names and multiples were put into a hat and my Hb pulled out..

drum roll....

I was delighted to see Vivienne's name as she has been a rock and total supporter of my blog since I started writing it 10 years ago. Even though she no longer blogs she still comments on all my blog posts, even if I have 2 in a day at the beginning of the month. Thanks V you really are a deserving winner. I will get your prize posted by the end of the week. 

My creative project today is one of the holiday makes I made in Tuscany. There were so many delightful spots to craft from like the one below.  

While away I decided to make a series of ATCs which I may make a little booklet for when I get the chance. 

You can follow me on Instagram; here or search for me as @jane.tyrrell . Those of you who do will have seen them but this is my challenge entry for today.

All the products are Tim Holtz.

I would like to enter it into the following challenges;

Dragonfly dreams 1/3 anything goes
Simon says stamp Monday summer memories
Creative artiste 1/3 anything goes
We love to create 1/3 anything goes

I will share some more photos of our Italian getaway soon, meanwhile is steaming here in the South of England. It reached 37c yesterday during the day here and it was still 28c at 10pm!
Phew! Today it's steaming away but I do think a storm is brewing....

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Oh and a little heads up that I am in print again with a 3 card mixed media feature in the latest edition of Creative stamping magazine. Issue #86 which is on sale now!

I'm back on Friday with a blog post sharing a couple of my makes and 1 made just for sharing here at Jane's Journal!

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

Zoom crafting with Daisy

Over the last 4 months I have  Zoom crafted at least once a week with my sweet 6 year old granddaughter Daisy. Thank goodness for modern technology. I miss her so much, it's not the same as being with her but it is a good 2nd best. We have made sooo many things that I thought I would share a few here in Jane's Journal.

She has a doll called Sydney which is similar to the American doll sold in the USA, a sort of "grown up doll" and she loves to make things for her. During one of our early zoom session Daisy asked if we could make some "food" for Sydney. Now I am a crafter who never throws things away and a few years ago I bought some fimo type clay for my jewellery class. I got a really good deal at the time on a mixed colours pack so even though I only used 1 packet I kept all the other colours. I realized I could use these to show Daisy using them my end and if I bought her some air dry clay we could work together.

I ordered her some via Amazon which were delivered to her house. I used my ancient packs, they were a little tough to roll out but worked fine.

We have had such fun.  My colours are limited by the ones I had so when I had used some up I had to resort to magical blue cookies and even a pink banana!

Here are some photos I took quickly before I sent my versions to her.

You can see I had to make green cookies, with purple choc chips!!

Green and purple spaghetti bolognase, purple sausages and even blue bread for the sandwiches.

The pizza colours though weren't too bad

I made rubber ducks so that Sydney had similar ones to Daisy and Jack's in their bath.

and then Daisy decided they needed a pond....

so I had to quickly make that.

We have also upcycled tomato tins, made cards and today we will me making some more artist trading cards and coins (ATCs). We have also been doing a Nanna and Daisy lockdown ATC swap. Our themes have ranged from garden, to butterflies and the seaside.

Here are a few that she sent me.

and I thought I would share the latest few I have made for her.
By the way I have been sharing a lots of my crafting makes over on Instagram, I could not possibly write a blog post for every one as there are literally dozens. If you would like to see them you can find me as jane.tyrrell on IG or via this link. I also have the address in my blog side bar.

What I have noticed is what a competent stamper Daisy has become. I can't be with her to stamp so she has been doing this completely unaided, as my crafting genes skipped a generation and her darling Mummy's eyes roll in their sockets when Daisy mentions the word "crafting!"

Below is a Thank you card for her teacher she made, she use her Visible Image Alice stamp which she then coloured. The only help her Mummy gave her was to spell the word "teacher" 

As my daughter is a doctor and both her and her husband Key workers so Daisy has been attending school throughout lock down. They are so grateful to them. I am sure her teacher will be thrilled with this. School finishes this week for everyone.

I am also really hoping that in the next few weeks I will be seeing my grandbabies again...there is a plan we are working on!

My own card challenge share today is one of my makes during lock down.This has been shared on social media but not entered into any challenges or seen on my blog.
Daisy lives at the seaside and we usually go over to the beach to collect shells whenever the weather is good. So that was my inspiration.
I made an alcohol ink background on silver sparkle card

 I altered some die cut acetate shells with alcohol inks.

and made this,
 It's very hard to photograph as the sparkle is so reflective. I love the words, they are from my small talk Tim Holtz stickers book and felt just right for my project.

I will be giving it to my sweet Daisy when I next see her.

I would like my seashells canvas into the following challenges;

Time out 1/3 peaceful
As you like it 1/3 summer or autumn definitely  summer for me as I can go to the beach and be warm!
A bit more time to craft 2/3 anything goes

Crafters' castle 2/3 anything goes

Crafty friends 2/3 anything goes

A gem of a challenge 2/3 anything goes

Try it on Tuesday 1/3 summertime

Crafty sentiments 1/3 anything goes

Through the dark room door 1/2 anything goes

 I want to look back at this post in years to come and try to remember the good things which happened during the Lock down to me. Zoom crafting with Daisy will be one of them.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that life continues to treat you all as well as it can during this dreadful pandemic.

Stay safe,

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

PS Jane's Journal is 10 (gulp) on Sunday and I have a giveaway open to EVERYONE worldwide. You don't have to jump through any hoops to enter, just stop by and leave a comment. All the details of what you can win will be in Sunday's post but here is a sneak peek.

See you on Sunday, Jx

My 7th bloggerversary and a giveaway

Yes it is hard to believe but Jane's Journal is 7 years old today!

7 years....844 (gulp) posts

7 years of wonderful blogging friendship.

261 loyal followers (and many more who have signed up and get my posts by email)

Goodness know how many photos....

This post is written to thank every single one of you who stops by here and reads my ramblings. I know that a lot of you are "silent" readers and I am waving to you today. Many of you also take the time to leave comments and there are a few (yes you know who) who leave comments on every, (barring holidays), post since I started blogging! 

Wow! What else can I say other than I honestly still love being a part the blogging community. I love blogging and it gives me a great deal of pleasure. I find it a positive, supportive and friendly place to be. I know that everyone has difficulties in their lives at some point but my ethos for writing my blog is to keep a record of my creative journey and hopefully, at the same time, put a smile on peoples' faces when they visit me here. I am a glass half full kind of girl and I believe that positive thoughts and words are contagious. My life has its fair share of ups and downs, the last few months have indeed had more than their fair share of testing times, but through it all I know that I am blessed and so thankful of the life I have been given.

Thank you for being a part of it. 

I am offering a small giveaway as a little thank you, with a choice of prize to the winner. This is open to everyone world wide...no gimmicks, no restrictions...just leave a comment that you would like to be included and your name will be put into the hat. As an extra thank you to my loyal followers I would like to offer you a second entry, just mention that you follow my blog (don't be shy if you want to join me today) or leave an extra comment. And if anyone would like to promote my little blog giveaway on their own blog or on social media, using the photo below, you are welcome to have a 3rd entry.
Below is the photo to use, if would like an extra entry. Just pop it into your side bar or share it in a post or on social media and let me know.
My giveaway is running from today and closes on 9th August at 4pm GMT.

There are 3 choices of prize for the winner, pulled out of the hat on 9th August. You may choose one of these;

• £10 gift voucher for Country View Crafts (Susan posts worldwide) to choose something crafty or put it toward something you have had you eye on.  Postage on your spend is free to any UK winner but if the winner is from overseas you will need to be be responsible for your own postage or other charges. I will send the £10 voucher by email worldwide. This prize has not been sponsored by CVC but I buy most of my crafting goodies from Susan as her prices and free postage are brilliant.

•  I know some of my dear blogging friends are not paper crafters so should you not have any use for a CVC voucher you may choose a £10 Amazon Voucher, sent by email.

or

• Some of you like my handmade bag charms, so my 3rd choice of  prize is the little cat bag charm, inspired by Billy and hand made by me using artisan glass lampwork one of a kind beads. I will post the bag charm worldwide. 

You don't need to make up your minds  re your prize choice yet, I will check with the winner after 9th August to see which prize they would like.

I can't send flowers so I am sharing these recent photos of my tiny sunny garden and my beloved studio, which give me so much inspiration

 and also a photo of my darling cat Billy who shares my outside space in the summer months.

 How easy it is to be inspired by Mother Nature.

Billy was caught napping on the garden table cover but instantly forgiven, he is just the best cat, my little shadow. He recently celebrated his 9th birthday 😺

My challenge project today is a thank you one...of course..
It's a thank you bottle tag I made for a good friend of mine who has stepped in to look after Billy at short notice several times this year. There was a bottle attached!

I used Distress Oxides for the background, a Tim Stencil and die cut sentiment and the long discontinued Bronte verse stamp by Visible Image which remains my all time favourite script stamp. I really wish Mark would bring it back...hint hint!!

I would like to enter my bottle tag into the following challenges;

That's Crafty 1/3 all things grunge

Fussy and Fancy 1/3 anything goes

Crafty Catz 1/3 anything goes

Emerald Creek Dares 2/3 sparkle/celebrations mine is of course my 7 year bloggerversary

Noor use die cuts

Happy Little Stampers (watercolour) 3/3 July
Artistic Inspirations 1/3 anything goes

Thank you again for stopping by and for making blogging such fun. Remember to leave a comment on this post if you would like to be included in my giveaway. Good luck to you all!

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Final Creative Chemistry 103 homework and my giveaway winner

Hello and as promised this is my final piece of homework from Tim's Creative Chemistry 103. The wrap up day is tomorrow and everyone's homework has to be in by tonight.
It's the best  crafting $25 I have spent in a long time. He is a brilliant teacher and there is life long access to the course. That's win win in my books.

For my last piece of homework I made a card using backing made using his texture paste embossing technique.

This was my piece, I added some hot summer colours of distress ink again. The stencil is my TH lace stencil.

 I stamped put my Lady Rose stamp again and hand water coloured her... I love this stamp.

I then die cut some MB and Cheery Lynn floral die cuts. I also added some rose stamping to the edges of the card.
 I put on my creative hat and this is my finished card.

I love the way the embossing shines out as raised texture.

You will notice that I made this a thank you card....


This is a thank you to Tim for being such an inspiration as well as a kind, warm human being. I really like his style of teaching and I know I will never get to sit in a class of his myself so this has been the next best thing.

I would like to also link it up to the following challenges;

Stamping Sensations anything goes
Penny Black and More anything goes
A vintage journey stencil it
That's Crafty 3/3 zesty zing
Craft Heaven Shop Challenge 3/3 #14 anything goes
Happy Little Stamper anything goes with dies
Addicted to stamps 1/3 and more anything goes
Simon says stamp Wednesday go wild I have used wild African bush colours!!
As you like it favourite flower and why mine is the Rose because they look and smell so beautiful and I had them in my wedding bouquet.
Uniko flowers

This is also a thank you to everyone who commented on my 6th Bloggerverary post 2 weeks ago and entered my giveaway. Yes it's time to announce my winner...........

I put the names in a hat

and my Hb pulled out a winner who is

Karen P...well done to Karen and if you can send me you snail mail address I will send you prize out to you. My email address is in my side bar.

I'm sorry I can't send everyone a prize but I can say once again to you all

Thank you...

 for being such great blogging friends.

I have nearly finished my holiday journal and hopefully that will be the piece I will be back with next. Happy Thursday, the weather is picking up and apparently next week we will heat up to 36c and be hotter than Ibiza...bring it on!

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

I am nearly 5....and a giveaway

My niece's wedding on Saturday was such a wonderful day. It is always so good to get together and celebrate such a happy occasion. The sun shone, the bride looked radiant, the bridesmaids were amazing and everyone had such fun.
I do plan a post about the wedding as there were some gorgeous vintage touches and details I would love to share. I took lots of photos and I also want to make a "Moment" of the day. I hate rushing things like this so it will need to wait a while so that I can do it justice. I am also working on lots of guest designer bits so I need to get those done and dusted and then I can have some "Me" crafting time.

The reason for my post title today is that on Sunday my little blog will be 5 years old. Yes I can't believe it either.
We are celebrating our wedding anniversary on Saturday and on Monday I have another guest designer post coming up so rather than cram something in on Sunday I thought I would make today's post in honour of my 5th bloggerversary.

I still really love blogging, it brings me constant pleasure.  A couple of weeks ago I published my 500th post. Wow, that's a lot of photographs and typing. I have made so many wonderful blogging friends and some have been with me right from that very first post way back in 2010. Some I have even had the pleasure to meet in person.

I have so enjoyed my creative journey and sharing all my crafts and hobbies here. As you know I am a bit of a dabbler in everything from card making, mixed media, cake making, gardening, photography, knitting, silversmithing, jewellery making and most recently crochet. I do love to constantly challenge myself artistically so my ideas and styles have continually changed and evolved over the last 5 years.  If you missed my post sharing my hand made sea glass silver pendant do have a read here. It will then make sense why I am offering my handmade  jewellery below as a gift, to say thank you to everyone who stops by and reads Jane's Journal

I wish I could send everyone a little gift but I can't, so I am offering 2 presents from me. There is a silver shell left over from my sea glass necklace on a silver chain and a pearl, shell, mother of pearl and coral necklace. All my jewellery has sterling silver findings and the little shell is fine silver. They will come in an organza bag and would make a great gift if they are not your personal taste. The winning names will be drawn out of a hat after the giveaway closes at 4pm on 9th August. I will post world wide. The first name out of the hat can choose which of the necklaces they prefer and the runner up will have the other.

My giveaways are always open to everyone whether you are a silent reader, follow by email or come past this way every post. Simply leave a comment on this post that you would like to be included in the draw and you're in with a chance. To give a little extra to my regular readers (yes you know who you are) I will offer an extra entry if you are a follower (new ones are always most welcome) and a 3rd entry to anyone who links/shares my giveaway photo above in their sidebar, on social media or in a blog post.
Please can you either leave separate comments telling me what you have done or just tell me how many entries you are entitled to.

My card today is of course a thank you card..what else could it be! I made it for my friend who kindly popped in and looked after  Billy at the weekend while we were away.

 The stamp I won over at Crafty Individuals. I really love it. I have stamped it onto a book page and coloured it with distress inks.

It's very much me enjoying a cup of tea in my little garden;

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

Crafty individuals face value...I have gone a little lateral and used a clock face but there is also a bird face here too ;0)
PaperArtsy Time I was inspired by the clocks Leandra shared shown on book pages in her introduction post.
Die cut divas summer and patriotism..mine is the English tradition of afternoon tea.
Simon Says work it Wednesday die cuts
Creative Inspirations flowers
Little Claire's in bloom
That Craft Place words
Noor UK something old something new my new is my stamp my old is my ribbon.
Stamping sensations feature a creature
Crafty ribbons anything goes
Bunny Zoe summer breeze
Crafty Hazelnut's Pattern Paper July

Thank you everyone, it has been an amazing 5 years. I love sharing my work and snippets of my life with you. My pages of Jane's Journal are now quite thick but there are plenty more chapters for me to write.

You are all such kind, sweet friends and I really treasure sharing this fun blogging world.

Back on Monday with my 4th GD post for Tracey and if you like the flower power days of the 60s and 70s I am sure my creation will raise a smile!

Bye for now,

Jane x

I am 4

Yes it is true.....today Jane's Journal turns 4....where on earth have those 4 years gone! I have made so many wonderful blogging friendships and to celebrate I am having a giveaway with 2  rather special prizes as a thank you to everyone who visits me here. I thought something  very summery would be appropriate.
I gave a little sneak peek on Monday so now it is time to reveal all.

Yes I have wired up one of my very precious artisan made lampwork glass shells to made a pretty summer pendant. It has a handmade sterling silver fitting and a genuine sparkling Sworovski bicone crystal on top. It will come on an 18" sterling silver chain.

The 2nd person out of the hat will receive this summer themed bag charm which also has 2 very special unique artisan lampwork glass beads and several fun summer themed charms.

Everyone is welcome to enter my giveaway, I never have any restrictions as I know there are many people who follow by email or just pop by and silently read.  I will post world wide. 

To enter; just  leave a comment on this post, that you would like to be a winner, you will receive 1 entry.  However I really love to give my faithful blogging friends who visit me and comment on every single post (yes you all know who you all are and I thank you so much for always stopping by here, some from day 1 and some more recently) a few extra entries. So if you are a follower (you a welcome to join me today as well) you will get a 2nd entry. Finally if you put the photo at the top of this post showing the details of my giveaway  into your blog sidebar, or you mention my giveaway in a post, I will give you a 3rd entry.

Just come back and leave a separate comment for each of the entries you are entitled to. You have 2 weeks to do this in.

My giveaway will close at 4pm (BST) on 9 August. 

I will put all the entries into a hat and my Hb will pull out 2 winners names soon after the closing time. Please make sure you come back after 9 August to see if you are a lucky winner. 

I have been adding some summer themed jewellery to my Etsy shop and if you cannot wait until my bloggerversary ends these pieces are for sale.

This lovely beach themed pendant is available Here

And this pair of etched glass shell earrings here

Also a similar summer themed bag charm is available here

We are off today to the family BBQ to celebrate my daughter and SIL's 2nd wedding anniversary. My Hb and I had a lovely day celebrating our 33rd yesterday with a trip to London. We enjoyed our lunch in Brown's and then pottered around the shops.

My card today is another wedding/anniversary themed card, a gold and white creation. I enjoy making these, they have such a cool elegant feel. This is very welcome after the heat wave we have been enjoying...it was 32c+ most afternoons this week.

The sentiment is computer generated. I have embossed the background. The heart and butterflies are Cheery Lynn.

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

ABC P is for Pearls 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday  embossing I have used dry embossing of the background
Party Time Tuesday anything goes
Crafty Ribbons anything goes with ribbon
Cheery Lynn gold and/or silver I have a gold edge on my ribbon and silver pearls
Love to create bright and sunny
Fussy and Fancy words
Crafty Catz anything goes
We do doobadoo Celebrations

Thank you all  for making this a very special day for me. Here's to the next year of blogging friendship. No one quite realises how special blogging is unless they are a part of it.....and I love being a part of it.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x