Tuesday 20 August 2013

More glorious sunshine

This late but long summer has been glorious and this week the temperatures are rising again to 26c by Friday. This morning, as it's my day off, I trotted down to the high street to have my hair cut and this was my beloved ponds at 9.30 am.


Doesn't sunshine just make everything look perfect? My heart skips a little beat when I sit for a moment by the ponds as it brings back so many memories of summer days when my children were small. We visited the ponds most days and they spent many happy hours in the amazing play park there. I also thought that in a few years time I will be able to retrace those memories with my grandbaby who is due in no less than 80 days time ;0)

My garden produce continues to provide lots of tasty treats and my tomatoes have been made so beautifully sweet by the long sunny days. I love just pulling a fruit off the plant, a quick wash under the tap and then the joy of a still warm snack.



I also grew a couple of unusual plants this year. The first I would like to share with you are the cucamelons. They are a range of seeds from Sutton's and  I bought these in the spring. I started them off in my little indoors propagator in the sunshine of our back bedroom. They taste of cucumber with a very slight sweet twist and I think will be perfect for Pimms this weekend, it is a bank holiday here in the UK.
Here they are back in May being planted out in my hanging basket
Last month


 and today






I have been able to spend the this afternoon with Billy in my garden studio cracking on with some jewellery making and some card commissions. I have also been deadheading my pots which are still producing amazing blooms. I'm not sure you can really call this helping ?


My card today has a garden theme and features the red and green from my tomatos. I have used my Magnolia yummy Strawberry Kisses Tilda stamp. This card is for sale here in myEtsy shop
 I have added my usual recipe of glossy accents to the strawberries to make them even more delicious looking. I coloured my image with Promarkers and highlighted with Prismacolor pencils. The die cuts are Cheery Lynn small butterflies are a MS punch. The tags I made are by LOTV, part of my Pretty Vintage win. I have tied a dragonfly charm with some twine and added gems in red and green at the sides. The flower I made with prima petals with a Card Candi for the centre. I have just bought some new Craftworks card candi and this is one of the new packets. 

I would like to enter my card  into the following challenges.

Papertake Weekly flower power
Top Tip Tuesday use things with your initials My initials are JT. Now J is incredibly difficult but I thought I would push my luck and suggest Juicy strawberry  jewels (jems) for J and  for T I have used Tags, Tilda stamp, Tibetan charm and Twine
Ribbon Girl Red
Emma's cards Floral
Penny Black and More In the garden
Passion for Promarkers Fave colour combo mine is red/green
A little bit crafty summer sun
Cutie Pies Anything goes
Ohh La La Inspired by a song Whenever I use this stamp I start humming The Beatles "Strawberry Fields"
Crafty Ribbons 3 of something I have made 3 tags
Stamping Sensations Wings and things and a touch of vintage
Marvellous Magnolia anything goes
Loves Rubber stamps round or square cards
Craft Room Challenge Use something new the new is my new dragon fly charm, the card candi and the vintage tags stamps
Make it Monday Linky party #154
Bunny Zoe Bingo I have used the far right vertical line; Tag, gems, charm
Rhedd and Rosie's challenge use red

I hope every one in the UK is making the most of this glorious weather. It's work for me tomorrow but I am really looking forward to the long bank holiday weekend, let's hope the weather can last until then. Enjoy the week and your crafting. Welcome to my newest followers and I hope you enjoy following my creative journey and thank you to everyone who stops by here and leaves such sweet comments. It's the start of the Great British Bake Off on TV tonight...I watch very little TV but this is one of my must sees ;0)

Back soon,


Bye for now,

Jane x

42 comments:

  1. Billy was being super helpful Im sure :)

    Not long now until your grandbaby arrives, you must be so excited!

    Helenxx

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  2. a wonderful card jane and I can't believe how well your tomatoes have done - I've just had my first half dozen!!!! And they really aren't what you would call prolific either!!! No green tomato chutney for me this year - lol xx

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  3. Now you 're not sure whether Billy is helping or not but really someone as to get down there and look upwards and he seems the right man for the job!!
    I had never heard of cucamelons before, your climate down there allows you to grow allsorts. My tomatoes are only beginning to ripen and they're in the greenhouse.
    I'm afraid we have rain again this evening. :(
    Enjoy the rest of the week Jane,
    V xxx

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  4. oh wow, this is adorable! Super cute and I love the embellishments too

    thank you for joining in with the cutie pies xx

    looks delightful where you live.....and those toms look pretty yummy too xx

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  5. Beautifully designed and made card Jane, lovely summer colours and great image for the garden theme. Love the photos, where are the ponds? I'd ask hubbie but he's snoring now lol.
    See you soon.
    Hugs Brenda xxx

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  6. Cute card. Love the green, red and yellow color combo you used, I 'm envious of your coloring skills. She looks awesome. I saw your card on MIM.

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  7. Hi Jane.. a very fun post! Those tomatoes and little cukes are wonderful! Billy is such a sweet companion. We are still trying to get caught up from our camping trip.. having fun takes a lot of effort!! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  8. Lovely Summery card. Thanks for playing at crafty ribbons

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  9. Thank you for sharing such a lovely array of photos Jane.

    Your tomatoes look good, I think it must be a good year for them as they keep arriving in my kitchen by the bowlful, so I think I'll be freezing down some soup and ragout.

    Cute card as well.

    B x

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  10. how gorgeous and love the detail
    Hugs Kate xx

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  11. Jane, I always love seeing your photos, and your Tilda card is the perfect match for them, love the strawberry, thanks for sharing with us at the Craft Room Challenge, Debi x

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  12. Good morning, Jane! My you have been blessed with the weather - unfortunately for those of us a little more north in the country, it's a bit more grey with a hope of sunshine! Your tomatoes are doing fabulously - mine are still all very green and I'm hoping that Mr Sun will poke his head out this week to ripen some in time for our village gardening show at the end of the month! Love the look of those cucamelons, might have to have a try at these next year! I'm hoping that next season I'll be able to spend a bit more time in the garden, once the work on the house is finished (if it ever gets started!)
    I hope M is still enjoying her pregnancy and it's certainly not long now!
    Great summer theme on your pretty Tilda card, fab dies and pretty embellishments! Enjoy the Bank holiday weekend! Hugs, Lisa x

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  13. LOL..juicy?? :D I love it! I think it fits perfectly Jane. Those pictures are fantastic btw....the most succulent looking 'maters I've ever seen! Your kitty cat is precious too. Loved seeing the wonderful garden and your beautiful Tilda card filled with items of your initials.
    The linky on TTT is up and running now so definitely pop this one in there!
    hugs to you and thank you for playing along too.
    Lisa xx

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  14. This is FAB! LOVE all your "sweet" details! Lol!
    Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful card with us at Make it Monday! Good luck!
    Rene :D

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  15. Hi Jane,
    delicious card and photos.
    Beautiful colouring and that Glossy is great effect.
    Thank you for sharing at Penny Black and More, good luck;-))m

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  16. Wow, what a lovely garden you have - and wow what a lovely card. I have the same image, and now I´m afraid I might think of Strawberry Fields and your tomatoes and cat every time I use it - lol
    Thanks a lot for sharing your beautiful card with us at Ooh La La. Big hugs from Lisbeth

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  17. Gorgeous card Jane - beautiful colours and I love the Glossy Accents in the scrummy strawberries.
    Amazing photos too - thanks for sharing.
    Thanks also for playing along with The Cuties and PTW.
    Good luck.
    Debs xx

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  18. Fab card Jane, love those strawberries, fab photos too, thank you for joining in Rhedd and Rosie's challenge, good luck Hun, Zoe DT xx

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  19. A very Pretty card , thanks for joining us at Stamping sensations

    Francesca x

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  20. me again... thanks for sharing at Craft-Room Challenge also;-))m

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  21. amazing card,,, Jane, your coloring is supberb,,,,what a funny card,,,-.Thanks for your comments about my Kewpie colored digi at Kate Wiles `s blog,,,,So feel free to visit my store and choose your favorite product for free,,,,e-mail me to nicecrane@yahoo.com and I´ll send it.

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  22. I'm totally with you on the sunshine, Jane. My area has too many grey days. Sunshine IS the best.

    I love this latest card esp. the little strawberries in the basket and in the little girl's hand.

    Thanks for your visits and comments on my blog.

    Happy almost weekend to you and Supervisor Billy!!
    Anne x
    PlumCreek

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  23. Wow they look so yummy I could eat one! Love your great colour combo and the use of Glossy accents on your strawberry! Thanks for joining us at Marvelous Magnolias!

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  24. Hello dear Jane,

    What a wonderful, summery view! And +26C! WOW! It has cooled down here a lot, rain is almost constant and evenings are dark... Autumn has hit us! Fingers crossed that this weekend will be pretty, it's my nephew's b-day!

    It's wonderful that your granma-days are getting close... Babies are the best!

    Have a wonderful bank-holiday weekend soon, and kisses to that sweet boy again!

    Yours,
    Mia

    P.S. I have NEVER heard of cucamelons before, but those lizard egg (!!) -looking green little things are the cutest! Seriously!

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  25. Hello Jane,
    I always learn something new thanks to you and your posts are delightful! Thank You!!

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  26. Hello Jane...I'm visiting from MIM and am so glad I stopped by! Your photos are fabulous. Never heard of cucamelon before..they look interesting...TFS. Beautiful card with lovely colours and design. Pat K xx

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  27. Hello Jane what lovely photos with all that wonderful blue sky and beautiful ponds! Your tomatoes and cucamelons look delicious. Love the pretty card, it is very summery and fits well with the garden theme. Not long now till you will have a little grand baby to cuddle!
    Wishing you a wonderful bank holiday weekend.
    Helen x

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  28. Sweet! A gorgeous image and layout. Thanks for sharing with us at Make It Monday this week.
    Hugs,
    Sandy

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  29. Such a sweet card, cheeky little image too.

    Thank you for entering our challenge over at Rhedd & Rosies.

    Hugs
    Sandie x (owner & head Dt

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  30. This is so cute! adorable image. Cute card design!!! Thanks for Playing with us over at Loves Rubberstamps!!!

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  31. Such a lovely card. Thanks for joining us at Loves Rubberstamps.

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  32. Hi Jane, what a gorgeous card. I love the cute image and your colouring is fab. Thanks for joining in with our "fave colour combo" challenge at PFP this week. Hugs, Denise x
    p.s. great photos, love your cucamelons!

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  33. Thanks for sharing your wonderful pics. The cucamelons look intrigueing!
    Your card is beautiful too! Thanks for joining in the fun at Rhedd & Rosies challenge.
    Hugs
    Fiona x

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  34. What a sweet creation! Enjoyed your photos too. Those cucamelons look amazing! Thanks for joining us at Stamping sensations for our Wings and Things and a Touch of Vintage theme. Good Luck!

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  35. Adorable and so gorgeous...Thanks for playing along with us at A Little Bit Crafty this month.
    Wendy xx

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  36. adorable card! and what green fingers you have! Many thanks for entering the Rhedd and Rosie's Challenge and good luck! Melissa (DT) xxxx

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  37. A great use of your initials. A lovely bright card. I love all your tomatoes and produce, yummy. Thanks for joining Top Tip Tuesday. Elaine

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  38. lovely pics; the tomatoes look so yummy. such a sweet card and so perfect for our in the garden theme this month. thank you so much for playing along with us at penny black and more.
    linda

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  39. A fabulous card, thank you for joining us at Craft-Room Challenge.
    xxx Hazel.

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  40. Beautiful, Thanks for joining us at OLLCB.
    Chris x

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  41. Gorgeous card love all the details Thanks for entering our Inspired by song challenge at ooh La La Creations
    Alli x

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  42. Berrylicious!!!!! Your details are so fun!!
    Thanks for playing with us over at Loves Rubberstamps!!!
    ~~Nicole~~

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