What the heck is happening with Blogger????

I give up!

I've got lots to show everyone and bloody blogger is playing up again!!! It's been like it now for days and I can't upload a group of photos..

in draft blogger, it comes up with a .do file that won't download images unless I put them on my photobucket account, and in normal blogger, it won't let me nudge the pictures down the post when they *annoyingly* go to the top of the page!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHGHGHGHGH

I feel better now! Never mind, I can upload to photobucket later.. it's just such a farce....... what does anyone think of wordpress? Is that any better??

Going... going... gone!

Blinkin' eck! Where does all the time go these days?? I'm pretty sure it's a sign of getting older.

I ended a very busy week by going upto The Range, in Southport, to do a Docrafts demo. I love the ladies who come up to see me there, they are wonderful - chatty, funny, pleasant. What a wonderful way to spend a day. There were also a few new faces there - some that had just started crafting, others that just came to see the demo.... so welcome to you all!

My two regular ladies came up too.. (you know who you are.. hope you got back to the car in time lol) - before I forget, if you're reading this.. I found the little red book with your notes in on the shelf at the end of the day - get in touch and I'll post it on).

A great day was had by all, the only disappointing thing was they didn't have most of the new items I was supposed to be demonstrating, which is always a disappointment. The new butterfly punches 'flew out'.. pardon the pun.. these are just stunning - I love mine to bits!

I do have some projects to show you, but I need to get a crack on with my SU workshop cards for today.. Did you know I've organised some classes? Click on the link at the top to find out more.

The rest of this last week was taken up by making some new samples for Lili of the Valley and Debbi Moore, to take down to Create and Craft for some new shows.. so I can't share those I'm afraid. But the products are lovely.. LOTV got the upper hand this time - cute all the way!!!

So, that was about it.. a busy day again today, but I guess there's no rest for the wicked is there.. so I'll go and get myself up and sorted, then make a start.

See ya later!

WORKSHOPS

Details are now up on the workshop tab at the top of the page - nip over and take a look...

Contact me on joaustin22@aol.com for more details..

and ...

Did I tell you??

I'm going away for the weekend in a few weeks.. crafting luxury!

I'll spill the beans later.. lol..

Where??

Time?! Where does it go these days? We're already on Wednesday, and this week has just absolutely flown by!!!!

So, what have I been upto? Oooooooh boy lots of fun, that's what!

Saturday went by in a whirl.. I had a demo at the Range, Doncaster.. and my god, it was busy!! Everyone is loving the new product out and I enjoyed myself with my regular customers and friends.. we had a blast and lots of laughs! Thank you to all of you who dropped by to come and keep me company (and spend lots - but hush hush on that.. the men may be reading.. lol) The new butterfly punch 'flew' out the store, and by around 10.30 we had none left at all.. fantastic.. but they are soooo lovely!

Saturday evening, my lovely daughter decided to treat us all to a meal at Woodfield Farm. It is such a lovely atmosphere down there, and the meals are lovely (not least very big!!!!) By the end of my starter, I was absolutely stuffed, but persevered and finished my main, and then had a LARGE piece of banoffee pie to finish - I was soooooo bloated, but jeeeez, so worth it! And I didn't gain a pound, so that's even better! Thank you Carley, you're a treasure. You see, in our house, we share everything. Leyton, my hunny of a son, treats everyone one month, we do the next, and then Carley does the one after.. we take it in turns.. which is so lovely! Martina will join in when she's old enough too I guess.. but for now, she can just enjoy everyone else's generosity.. lol.

Sunday - not quite sure what happened..long walks for the puppies, town to do a bit of mindless shopping! And that was about it really.. just a general nothing sorta day - a lovely day at home with Hubby and family!

On Monday, I nipped over to Selby to see my 'Mummy' from Stampin Up.. Monica. Oh we had alot of laughs, and I loved her instantly! She's such a doll, I can tell you she is so lovely. We had a natter, lots of giggles, cuddles and then lots of creativity! We made our way up to her little crafting paradise and did lots of crafty bits.. not least this stinkin' cute little frog!

Now isn't she just the cutest little fwoggy you ever did see??? We had a dabble making some basic ones to start with, I'll show you mine later!!! And then Monica made this little cuteser! The only part I really had on this card was the lily pad.. cut freehand and then inked around and some lines embossed into it.

The hours just flew by, and I just managed to get home in time to make dinner, have a bath and flake out for the night!

So onto Tuesday, and well, the time just went again! I had to get my car fixed in the morning. The gear stick was having a few personal problems and kept disappearing into the floor! I've never seen anything so wierd in all my life, but I'm reckoning it's just a Hyundai thing.. lol.. It's held in place by two rubber squares, and they had worn out, so I picked up the replacement parts that I'd ordered last week and made my trip over to see my buddy Mark, who works at Motosave.. He's such a darling. He insisted he wasn't taking anything for fitting then (well, Trev fitted them.. Mark just watched lol). So, half hour later, I was on my merry way back home.

I then did a bit of cooking - vegetable bhaji's (yum!) and Carley made some carrot cake muffins (even more yum!).. off to make the dogs... do dinner... then relax! Day gone!

So today, I have loads of samples I need to make for this weekend - LOTV bits using some fantastic new products, and Debbi Moore - again using fantastic bits and pieces!!! Oh lucky, lucky me!! I love my job!

And between now and Monday, I have some prep to do for my workshop, details coming soon - there's noone really nearby who reads this I guess, so as long as the ads are up in the local area, it doens't matter I suppose.. lol.. It never ends does it? I wouldn't ever have it any other way though. Life is just perfect and I am thoroughly enjoying myself..

Don't forget though, if you fancy becoming your own boss to and working for yourself, then get in touch.. Stampin Up could be the way to go!! I'll tell you all about it.....

Spring had sprung!

Oh what a lovely week we had last week - beautiful sunshine and lots of dry days! What better way to spend some of my coffee break by wandering around the garden to snap some of the beautiful flowers which are just starting to come out.... escorted by three little pupsters of course - who don't make taking photographs all that easy - you point the camera, they jump at you with excitement and woof! Nice!

Anyway, I've made these images larger than the normal upload size - hope you like 'em this way.

This is a lilac that just grows and was never planted! In 22 years, it's only flowered a few times, and this year it's come back even more beautiful than ever.. and smells great too!

A close up of the Lilac's very pretty, waxy flowers.

I'm not exactly sure what this 'tree' is.. I bought it from Wilko's around six years ago as a sad looking little branch (I'm a sucker for poorly plants!). I nurtured it and it repays me each year with an abundance of these fantastic, blue little flowers - and the little birdies love it too! It's now around six foot tall and makes the garden look so summery!

Another of my strange little favourite plants - the humble Dandelion flower! Don't ask why I like them, I just do - I suppose it reminds me of my childhood playing with dandelion clocks in the woods with my sister and grandma! Oh, those were the days - remember them Jules?

Well, that's my photo update for now.. Hope you like!

Hellooooooo strangers...

I'm still here... hopefully gone but not forgotten! Sorry I've been away for a while, I've had a bit of work on this week to catch up with.. sorting out workshops, doing samples, demo stamples and the like.. phew.. all finished now. I'm at the Range, Doncaster tomorrow, so I had to get some bits and pieces done for that over this last week, and let me tell you, there are some really pretty new products out this month!

Anyway, here are some of the projects I've been making this last few weeks - these were for Stamptivity and I got sent the new set of Fairies to work with - they're really pretty and I hope you like what I've done with them.

There are a variety of different things I've used on these cards, but if you're wanting to know about anything in particular, just email me and I'll get you the details..

Right.. that's all for now.

Love Jo xx (and I promise I won't be a stranger for too long again! )

Do you want some candy?

As my blog comments have now gone over the 30,000 mark (and here was me thinking that noone followed my little bloglet and waffle!), I have decided that I'm going to offer some Birthday Candy leading up to my birthday on the 3rd June.

There will be challenges beginning on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th May too, and will end on the 17th, 24th, 31st and 7th June.

So, what do you have to do?

Well, here's a photo I took this month of our flowering cherry.

And using my Photoshop, I've managed to pull out a few of the colours..

So, what I'd like you to do is to make a stamped card using these three colours in it. If you find the darker tones too much to work with, then please use the lighter ones. I would also like a different shaped card, not a square or rectangle.

If you can then please leave a comment on this post, with a link to your card, then I can come blog hoppin'. If you can also add yourself as a follower too, that would be great!

I can't wait to see all your cards... I'll be back later with a photo of the candy for you all.

The winner of this challenge will be put on my blog on the 10th May, but because I'm a bit busy, I won't be able to notify you, so if the prize isn't claimed by the 12th May, it will roll over to be added to the next challenge.

So.. what are you waiting for? Let's get going...

Are YOU a paper lover?

If you are, then take a peek over HERE for some fantastic news.. how can you resist??

Do you love Stampin Up products?? Please scroll down for new posts.

STAMPERS TEN - taking Sign Ups NOW

• Do you love SU products?
• Fancy spreading your orders out over 10 months?
• Can you spend £15 a month on your order?

I need 10 people to commit to 10 months... during that 10 months you will get one chance at acting as "hostess" what that means is you will get one FREE LEVEL 1 stamp set.

email me joaustin22@aol.com to get on the list. Please put STAMPERS 10 on the subject line.

As soon as the spaces are full we can start.
Postage charges are extra