AmieJ Crafts

As mentioned in my last blog I wanted to provide you with an introduction to my new project AmieJ Crafts, my crafty and fun hobby which keeps my plenty busy. 

It all started when scrapbooking became my new hobby and passion. I would will away hours decorating pictures and pages, storing away my favourite memories creatively within a book. I have made several now, for myself and others. I just love getting crafty with paper, photos and glitter! After using Pinterest to inspire more scrapbooking ideas and layouts I discovered something else; crafting. 

Crafting is the most varied way to have fun and get creative. I love all things cute and sentimental that I decided I would use my new found interest in crafting to create gifts and keepsakes for people. These seem to make a lot of people happy which, in turn, made me very happy. Crafting therefore became my perfect hobby. 

I was creating keepsakes and other gifts alongside designing and printing my own greeting cards. I began to sell my products on local FaceBook sites and my products were becoming quite popular - as popular as they can in a small town anyway! I was then advised to set up an Etsy account to share my creations with people across the globe. This sounded completely overwhelming at first but now I am all set up. My idea was turning into something physical so I decided it needed a name; AmieJ Crafts was born. (I am sure I don't need to explain how AmieJ was formed…) I did debate a quirky name but felt my products didn't need something comic to make them sellable so I went with a more 'does what it says on the tin' approach. 

This is one of my crafts in time for Father's Day - 

A message in a bottle with a twist keepsake.

I feel really proud and excited to have set up this wonderful world of crafting for myself. I wanted to spread my excitement through showing the public my products and they appear to be receiving great feedback and interest. I am so lucky to be able to do something I really enjoy and share it with the world. 

This is a card design inspired by the small pencils they hand out at IKEA! 

Please check back from time to time to see updates on my crafty creations :) 

You can visit my Etsy shop here: AmieJCrafts

Or stop by my FaceBook page: AmieJCraftsFB

I PASSED!!

Well it has been an exciting week for me, I've played gigs, started my new nail business but the BEST part was passing my GCSE Mathematics. 

When I was in school in my final year I struggled with my exams due to problems at home therefore my grades suffered. I know everyone uses an excuse for low grades but I am being 100% honest. Anyway, since school I decided to follow my dream of becoming a teacher and for this to come true I needed my Maths GCSE. I was literally convinced that this would be the biggest obstacle for me to succeed becoming a teacher. But a dream is a dream and will only come true with hard work... So, last November (2012) I joined a Government funded Maths course and studied so hard alongside a great friend of mine. There were tears, rants and moments where I wanted to give up... But now I am pleased to say, the exams have been sit and the results are in... 

To obtain a 'C' grade, which is the highest mark you can achieve on the foundation course, I was advised I'd have to reach 180 marks+. Through all my efforts I came out achieving 220 marks!! I was so happy, literally over the moon. 

I guess this blog is about achieving and never giving up on yourself. Maths is something I was ridiculously scared of, a fear I never thought I could overcome, even to achieve my dream. But after a lot of hard work, support from home and self belief, I did it. I succeeded. 

So if there is something you are aiming for at the moment and things are getting tough... don't give up. You can do it if it is something you really want. 

What is your biggest dream at the moment? Are there any obstacles you have to face? 

Please leave a comment below...

10 Facts | Meet The Blogger

I think when you're reading a blog it's important to know a little bit about the Blogger; interests, background, occupation - just so you know if you can relate well to them. So here are 10 facts about me you wouldn't know unless you read this blog... 

1. I was born in Oxford and raised in a town called Bicester. Growing up here was exciting as there were plenty of friends to be made and fun to be had. I remember building dens out of crates, painting my Mum's shed with my friends, playing 40/40 in, hanging around fields in vast groups, attending and performing music gigs but most importantly, it's here I made my friends for life <3 

2. My dream since I was a little girl has been to teach. I love consuming knowledge from books, blogs, websites, videos, etc and then passing that knowledge on. So, luckily for me, I have been accepted on to a PGCE (post-graduate certificate in Education) course which will allow me to be a qualified teacher in just two years. I am so excited and this will probably be something I blog about... a lot!

3. Recently, I have unearthed my passion for writing again. In the last month I have taken on two voluntary jobs for two magazines as a music reviewer, I am studying towards a writing books for children course and have even started my own YA novel based on a dream I had. On top of this I am committing myself to write this blog. 

4. I love the smell of petrol, MacDonalds nuggets and One Million for him. I don't know why! 

5. I love baking and scold myself often for not doing it enough! Although I worry if I keep baking my waistline will keep growing!  

6. My favourite thing to do is go on holiday. I was lucky as a child as my Mum and Nanny took me and my older Brother everywhere! I've been to Spain, the Canary Islands, New York, Cyprus, Turkey, just to name a few! My next places I want to visit are; India and more of America.

7. My past nicknames (have come in high numbers) include; Monobob (because I used to be obsessed with black and white), Amie Lee (I love Amy Lee - Evanescence), Ames, Pixie, Bames, Amie 'she panics at the disco' (My surname used to be Szczepanik), amie-lou (middle name is Louise) and Amie-la-bob. 

8. My Mum and My Brother are the two most important people in my life. My Mum because she raised me and Adam on her own and is the strongest most inspirational person I have ever met! My brother, Adam, because quite simply, he is my best friend. <3 

9. If I could change one thing about myself I'd ask for skinnier thighs. Apparently it runs in the Johnson family to have chubby thighs! :( 

10. Finally, I am currently waiting on some deliveries because I am about to start my own Mobile nail shellac business. I can't decide on whether to call it 'Perfect Ten' or 'Dressy Digits'... 

What do you think I should call it? Leave your comments below :)

And, since you know 10 facts about me I'd love you to leave a random fact about yourself... xXx