A Crafty Interlude - ATC's

 I've been getting nice and crafty recently, thanks to my Swap-bot membership. I signed up to a few ATC (Artist Trading Cards) swaps after discovering them a few months back. You more or less do a themed piece of art or craft on a small piece of card, usually the size of a playing card and then you trade it with someone else. So my little collection of other peoples ATC's is slowly growing, and I love every little piece of art I receive from other people.

So I thought I would show you a few of the cards I made last week to send to other ATC makers all over the world. I'm a collager, as in I like to collage. Lots of papers, stickers, ribbons and little bits and bobs, so that is usually what my cards are made with. I always use real playing cards as my base and tear off a corner so the card suit shows, I just like them that way!

I set up a ribbon ATC swap, so all the cards made had to have a ribbon it. The 3 below were all made for that swap

 Vintage waterski image, with ribbon layered to look like waves

 This swap partner was a massive winnie the pooh fan - so I kinda went a little Winnie mad!

This one uses a great piece of vintage ribbon I was sent and a sticker from BB's Cupcakes

The theme of this was to use a stamp with a building on it! Turned out I had quite a few

The theme for this was to use my favourite stamp - I loved this frog stamp so much!

A Paris themed card - thought my fav French actress Audrey Tautou would be a good idea

 And lastly a London themed card, hehe, like the rain and the teacup?

Is anyone else into ATC's or getting crafty in general?

Don't forget to enter my Blog Birthday Giveaway or you'll miss out on the chance to win some designer sunglasses.

Music - Adele, 'Skyfall'

Thought you may all fancy a change from the usual fashion posts so here is a bit of music for you - an awesome bit of music that I was super excited to hear.

Adele's new Bond track for the film Skyfall. Please have a listen to it all, it is really beautiful and a prefect Bond theme tune. 

So what do you think of it? Like it? I love it!

What is your favourite Bond theme tune of all time?

Are you a Bond fan in general?

I really like them even though they are completely cheesy at times. I love Octapussy, although Pierce is my fav bond!
Here is the trailer for the new Skyfall film as a little teaser for you!

 Hope you like it and look forward to seeing it!

Blog Birthday Giveaway

My little old blog is 3 today! Yep 3 years ago today I posted my very first blog post, you can see it here, it was all about Etsy Finds - still a popular topic with me! I honestly can't believe that I have stuck it out so long, but I have made some great online friends, meet lots of lovely people and just loved every minute of it. Plus I'm pretty sure that I will make it another 3 years, as I have no intention of leaving any time soon.

Winning the Wales Lifestyle Blog of the Year 2012 has also shown me that I am obviously doing something right. And that you guys, my readers actually enjoy my little corner of the internet. So as a big thank you to all you guys, whether you have been with me from the start (I know a few of you have) or are one of my newer readers, I am hosting a little giveaway with one of my long term sponsors SunglassesShop.com. 

Up for grabs is a pair of sunglasses. Yes ok I know its winter coming, and shades probably aren't the first thing on your mind, but the winter can still be bright sometimes, especially glare when your driving. So I have teamed up with Sunglasses Shop to bring you some of the hottest styles for this winter. There are 4 pairs to choose from. 

SXUC Mirrored Aviators 

SXUC Kylie

Le Specs The Revolver

Jeepers Peepers Franz

So ladies (and gents!) all you have to do is be a follower of my blog (via GFC) and leave me a comment saying which of the pairs of glasses above you would like to win? Tell me why you like them, or how you would style them, anything about them. 

Plus follow me on Facebook or Twitter for an extra entry. 

You can put it all in one comment and leave me your email so I can get hold of you. 

Open internationally!

The giveaway will close on the 20th October and the winner will win which ever pair they chose!

Good luck!

Cross-Jones Photography - Amy Packwood

Well me and Jon braved the weather last week to do another shoot with a great model - Amy Packwood or Miss Amie Belle, as she is also known. We got some beautiful shots out in the forest and in the gardens of a local manor house.

Here is just one shot from the set, you can see the rest on our photography blog - [Cross-Jones-Photography] Please check them out and tell us what you think!

If your interested in booking us for a shoot please feel free to get in touch via one of our blogs, email or Twitter @crossjonesphoto to discuss ideas.