Thursday 25 April 2013

A spring taster

What a bonus the weather was at the weekend. We woke up to clear blue skies and on Saturday we even managed lunch in the garden on the patio. I was able to get the front and back gardens tidied and my little lawn had it's first haircut this year. Here it is all freshly cut....the smell is always delicious and in the warmth there were bees buzzing around too.
I have emptied lots of the post from last year and had a good spring clean out there.






My magnolia has finally burst into bud.
















My flowering current is looking vibrant.
















My outdoor hyacinth in a pot has finally flowered. I really began to think it would never happen and that the cold weather had caused the bulb to be blind.
I have this on the veranda of my studio, it smells wonderful.














Out in my front garden the scabious is in flower now.















As are my alpines.
Whilst I was busy out in the front and back gardens someone else was busy.......











doing nothing and enjoying the sun. And when it got too hot.................






up Billy hopped and found himself somewhere in the shade.















It's a tough life being a cat isn't it ;0)

My card today has to be something garden/sunshine/Billy inspired. It is a variation of the card I made for my own Mum for Mother's day this year. I really loved the colours so I made another version using the same card and sold it in my Etsy shop. It found a new home all the way over the pond in the USA. I know that Mother's day over there is not until May.

I used my Kitten Cuddles stamp by Lili of the Valley. I coloured it using my Promarkers pens I highlighted using my Prismcolor pencils. The oval die is the Spellbinders floral oval . My butterflies are the Martha Stewart large and small Monarch butterflies. The backing paper has been in my stash for year. The sentiment is also LOTV.

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

Emma's Cards Butterflies
Stamping Sensations Special occasions 3rd and final entry
Visible Image Spring
Divas by Design Inpired by a movie My movie is "The Secret Garden". I loved both the book and the movie it inspired.
Lili's Little Fairies Photo inspiration
Crafty Ribbons anything goes #44
I love Promarkers A square card with something round #165 my round is my sentiment  (and the gems on the butterflies!)
Simon Says anything goes
Passion for Promarkers Animals


This lovely weather has continued all week but we can't be greedy as there is rain again on its way for Friday. I don't mind that just as long as we can get some sunny days in between.
Yet another week has flown by. I have enjoyed snatching the odd moments in my garden studio enjoying all things crafty.
Today we have blue skies and warm sunshine again and I will really enjoy it as it is my day off! Happy Thursday everyone and enjoy the weekend when we get there. Thanks as always for you kind visits and comments which you leave me here.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

31 comments:

  1. I think I may have to move to sunny Surrey!! It has definitely milder here but not hot and yet again we woke to rain although it seems to be brightening up a bit now.
    Billy has quite the life, hasn't he! ;)
    Love the little kitty card, very cute.
    Enjoy your day off and have a great weekend Jane, we're off to the florists today!
    V xxx

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  2. Love reading your post; beautiful photos & I love your cat so much, real charming.
    You made such a beautiful card.
    Have a nice day.
    MargeGoh margegoh.blogspot.com/

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  3. A lovely card. The colour and image are fabulous. Thanks for joining in at Emma's Crafty Challenge this month and good luck x

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  4. Your garden looks lovely after it's first haircut! I must try and get out in mine this year as it was completely neglected last year, the only problem is that it is quite big and the grounds is full of boulders from where a previous tenant filled in their swimming pool! It is so hard to dig that I did my back in the last time I tried, hence the neglect!
    Nice to see Billy making the most of the warm weather...being a cat is such hard work?!
    Sweet card using that pretty LOTV image and fab colour combo!
    Enjoy the rest of your day off - I got my ironing done, but it took over 2 hours..aagghh! Hugs, Lisa x

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  5. Oh such a gorgeous post, Jane. I can smell the flowers right now. And how sweet to see Billy enjoying all that is HIS world. : ) Thank you so much for your lovely visit..you made my day! I've been so amiss at posting..I am going to try to post more often and you have inspired me. Thank you dear Jane. I hope you've been well and wish you a lovely rest of April. Your mother's day card is simply adorable!!!

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  6. Hello dear Jane,

    I looks so SUMMERy at yours already, Jane, I love (and envy :) too) it! Beautiful! And Billy-boy is truly enjoying the sunshine...What a beautiful boy he is! And that card is such a beauty too - just my colors!

    Wishing you lovely last days of April!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  7. Spring has certainly sprung in your garden Jane, lovely photos. I love your sweet little card too. Thanks for joining us at Crafty Ribbons.
    Pinky

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  8. Thanks for joining us at Stamping Sensations too Jane.
    Pinky

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  9. Such a pretty card, love the image and colour combo. Fab garden pics too, my cats do the same in warm weather, which in Inverness isn't that often! Thanks for joining u sat I Love Promarkers xx

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  10. A beautiful card really pretty colours and design, thanks for joining us at Divas By Design this week. Jac x

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  11. Good evening Jane...Your garden is looking so pretty in the sunshine and your lawn looks so lush and green too...I'm not surprised that lovely Billy is enjoying the moment....he looks very content sitting in the shade there. Could you send us some sunshine too please? It's been cold and wet here today!
    Such a pretty card too...it will definitely make one very lucky mum's day!
    Happy Thursday!
    Susan x

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  12. Hi Jane, You sure live in a beautiful spot. Your yard looks so fresh and alive and welcoming. I'll be right over! And Billy, well he's the lucky and sweetest cat I know. What a love bug.
    Hope you have more good weather, xoRobin

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  13. Such a pretty card! I know you are all looking forward to the warmer weather, but we don't here in Phoenix, AZ USA where it hits over 120 in the summer. I'm thinking I'd like to live at your house and be your Billy in my next life. :) --Gail

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  14. Hi Jane, What inviting photos. Enjoy your green grass and flowers. My fave was the currant flowers.

    Billy seems so happy in the warmer weather.
    Beautiful card !! Just right for Mother's Day!

    Happy creating---I could not leave a message on your last post. Loved seeing your purchases and the A. Palace.

    Best wishes,
    Anne x
    PlumCreek Studio

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  15. Beautiful pictures from your Garden. I wish I could have a Magnolia Tree but it's too cold where I live. Spring has come a long way where you live. Here we can still see snow at some places in the forrest.
    Beautiful Card! I love the design and the Image. Lovely coloring too. Thanks for playing with us at PFP this week.
    Good luck!
    Hugs Frida

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  16. Good Morning Jane and Billy! How wonderful to see you in the garden! Most beautiful flowers and I can smell that amazing hyacinth! Billy looks so comfy under the flowers and stretching in the sun! I hope the weather cast has it wrong and sunshine continues! x Teje

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  17. Your garden looks to be a little ahead of ours Jane, everything is still so late here despite a few warmer days.

    Such a very pretty card, thanks so much for sharing with us at Stamping Sensations this month.

    B x

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  18. Beautiful card
    Thank you for entering Emma’s crafty challenge
    and good luck xx

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  19. Lovely sunny garden pictures, Jane. Loved seeing so many sweet flowers in bloom and the blue sky! And I do love the picture of Billy in the dappled shade there...how comfortable cats can look! Your new card is very pretty, a lovely spring choice.
    Wishing you a happy sunny weekend.
    Helen x

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  20. Awww what a cutie card, great layout and color scheme, thanks for entering at Visible Image, good luck :D

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  21. Your beautiful card definitely matches your gorgeous Spring photos.. thanks for joining us at Simon Says Challenge blog

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  22. Fabulous card, such a sweet image. Thank you for joining in the Visible Image April challenge.
    Cathy xx

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  23. Oh Jane.. your yard looks so inviting! I got my bag charm from you today! I love it and promptly clipped it onto my purse I carry every day. Thank you so much and I loved the little note from you in your own handwriting. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  24. Fab pictures of the garden Jane - oh that ther weather could keep up! Your card is really pretty and spring like too - thanks for joinin us at Lili's Little Fairies this week
    hugs
    Pauline x

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  25. Thank you for playing along at Lili’s Little Fairies this week with such a lovely card, hope to see you next time. Good Luck! Hugs Christine x

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  26. Your garden looks super. Lovely card. Thanks for taking part at I ♥ Promarkers this week.

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  27. Such a pretty spring like card. Gorgeous image & fab colouring. Thank you for joining in my 'Animals' challenge at PFP.
    Natx

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  28. I wish my yard looked as pretty as yours. Thanks for sharing flowers and pretty card :)

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  29. So pretty Jane, fab garden and kitty too, thanks for joining us at I ♥ ProMarkers.

    xx

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  30. Oh Jane, it's so nice to see that you enjoyed a few days of beautiful spring weather in your garden along with your good pal Billy. As always, your flowers are lovely- I can only imagine the hyacinth's fresh fragrance, as they are long gone here. It was good to catch up on your other posts, too. I get a brief sightseeing tour every time I visit- Pally Ally seems like a great place, such wonderful history. I can't wait to see your future creations with that fun stash o' goodies you brought home. Shhh! I keep mine in cubbies all over the place- Just don't forget where they're hidden! ;o) Such a pretty card to go with your spring theme this week! :o)

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  31. I must say, your garden is looking very neat and tidy, our grass has such a bad case of moss invasion, and now lots of black patches from the moss killer, so I am very envious! We've left it alone for so many years, we're now paying the price, serves us right.

    I hope you are having some sunny days amongst the rain, it is turning everything s glorious, vibrant green though. Bethx

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Jane x