Dress Up - September......

.....Just about made it in time for September's Dress!!

Wow, we are now on

Dress #9

for Margaret's Wonderful Dress-Up challenge!

-oOo-

I had so many ideas for this month's frock

...but a school theme won!!

-Inspired by the quietness left by all my 3 sons returning to School, College and Uni after the long and busy Summer Holidays!-

Even, Barney is missing the boy's noisy antics!!

-oOo-

Anyway, here is my September Dress.....

I had this fab school themed paper in my stash,

(I just love the little faint children images and school-like handwriting).

Distressed it a little and added some gingham ribbon. rik rak, lace, abc letters and lots of lovely buttons!

-oOo-

Only 3 more dresses to go now!

...and I really must make a little wardrobe to store my collection of outfits!

Now, pop over to Margaret's blog to see all the other

Stunning September Costume Creations!

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Christmas has come early.......

....in the Smifferoo household!!

Anyone who has peeked in at my blog before, knows that I have a fascination with altering li'l matchboxes!

Well, Matchbox Madness is really apt this time, because I'm taking part in the 'Countdown to Christmas' match box swap over at A Swap for all Seasons

-oOo-

Where we have to alter 25 lil matchboxes!!
(Mmmm, yep I think that I have gone a little Christmas Crackers!!)

....then make little gifts to go inside each of the 25 boxes.

-oOo-

These all get sent to Linda, who will send us back 25 boxes from 25 different crafty peeps!!

So in December we have our own lil Christmas Countdown calendar!

How fun is that!!

-oOo-

First of all, start with some supplies!

25 matchboxes!! - (I'm sure my local shop think I'm a pyromaniac LOL!)

I decided to alter them with some festive fabric

...then add some embellies, lace, buttons, ribbons, numbered tags etc....

...and voila

My Countdown to Christmas boxes.

...filled with handmade goodies (inspired by my recent jewellery making course!)

All packed up and ready to go....

....and have now been posted.

Thanx Linda for organising a fabby swap!

-oOo-

Talking of Christmas coming early, I've been sooooooo excited all week!

I managed to get my inky lil paws on a golden ticket for the Tim Holtz ArtsyCrafty class in February!!

Whooooo, can't wait to stalk (Whoops!! I mean meet!!LOL) the Grunge Master himself!!

The strange thing is, I nearly missed out, my computer has been playing up recently, so I have missed out on all the crafty gossip, then I got a text from my hubby who had heard from one of his work colleagues ( Thank you Yvonne!) who is also a big Tim fan saying....

'Tom Bolts (That was his predictive text for Tim Holtz LOL!!) is doing a workshop, check out Paperartsy site'.

Wierdly enough, I didn't have to text back to ask who 'Tom Bolts' was, as I'm soooo used to his strange predictive texts now! LOL!!...and the even wierder thing is.....I knew he meant Tim Holtz!!

....Then I had the slightly stressful time trying to book my ticket, as the computer booking system went into meltdown!!

...then waiting for the confirmation email!!

-oOo-

Anyway I've bored all that will listen with how lucky I am!!

...even Barney boy has had enough of listening to me going on about my awesome Mr Holtz ticket!! LOL

Mmmm, I'm sure he is just pretending to be asleep!! LOL
Oh, did I mention I'm soooo excited!!!!!

-oOo-

Oh, this is turning into a rather long post -Sorry!!

I go missing for most of the month, and now you cant shut me up!! LOL!

-oOo-

...still on the subject of Christmas!!

It's been feeling like Christmas all week!

(apart from getting a Tim Holtz ticket- Mmmm have I mentioned this already!!)
I've received some AMAZING packages in the post

(birthday pressies & swaps!)

Thank you ladies - you know who you are!!

I'm planning to blog about the crafty lovlies I received in a future blog post...

So watch this space!!

-oOo-

Off now to get a cuppa!

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

Let's get shabby Challenge #15 - Hush little baby......

Hush, little baby.....

Challenge #15

Over at Let's get shabby...

...is all about MUSIC

-oOo-

I love using 'old' music pages in my creations.

I decided to have another go at a shabby layout for this challenge.

-oOo-

I've used chipboard letters, shapes and birdcage

- which I have tried to paint 'shabby' style!!

...and lots of handmade shabby flowers, lace buttons, beads etc..

..Oh, and a piccy of one of my little darlings (when he was about 5 months old )

-oOo-

Hush little baby

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,

Mama's going to buy you a mocking bird.

...and if that mocking bird won't sing,
Mama's going to buy you a golden ring.....

-oOo-

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x