Tuesday 5 March 2013

On the Wandle Trail

many thanks to everyone who visited my Guest design post on Sunday. I really enjoyed seeing so many people and Billy was pleased too. Thank you also for all the lovely comments you left. I really enjoyed reading them.  I am glad the card went down well as it was really outside my usual comfort zone. At the weekend the weather had improved so much that my Hb and I ventured out for another good long walk. We are lucky enough to live on the Wandle Trail, a 12 mile walking cycling/walking route along the River Wandle from Croydon up to Wandsworth in London. The River Wandle in the past was a very busy "working" river with my mills and other industry along it's length. Indeed where I live was renowned for watercress and lavender growing. There are still many old buildings standing showing how the river was used in the past.
Recently there has been a major investment made and the pathways have been tidied up and even a map produced showing the trail.

The first part we decided to investigate was Wilderness Island, a local nature reserve. We put on our walking boots and set off on Sunday in the Sunshine.




The island is only small but perfect for sweeping away the cobwebs and getting used to walking again after such a dire winter. No one else was there so we had the place to ourselves and the wildlife. Cycles are not allowed inside this part of the Wandle trail either.










Several little bridges have been built since we last visited many years ago. There were lots of ducks and birds on the water. We even spied bat boxes in the tree, although we did not see any bats as they are usually nocturnal.


















The island is a real little haven and yet so close to suburbia.





It was a great visit. We then rejoined the trail and walked a few more miles further down the river towards Morden. I will share some more of our adventures as we walk them and at some point this year we hope to get as far as Wandsworth.

All this walking inspired me for my challenge card for this post. Walking and shoes came to mind and I knew just what stamp to use. I used one from the Killer Heels  release, this one is called Rose. It is made by my buddy Kerry's company, Ladybug Crafts Ink. They have a blog hop on at the moment showcasing some fab new stamps called "Through the ages". I have a link in my sidebar. Do take a look and join the fun.

 I also wanted to enter the super challenge being run for Cupcakes Inspirations 200th post so I combined the 2.





This is my inspiration cupcake photo I used , it is number 72 from their blog.
I used the pink colour from the flowers and also I liked the black swirls.

So do you want to see what I made..................











 Here is a close up of this fab stamp. I had great fun using my Promarkers to colour it. I added some bling to the details and a silver sparkly ribbon. The tags are Lili of the Valley. I also got my Bigshot out to play and cut an oval for the 21 sentiment and used my great Memory Box bow too. 

Now I don't think I will be wearing these killer heels on our Wandle Trail walks......do you ;0)

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

Ladybug Crafts Ink Through the ages - add a number I added 21 (my age..LOL)
Cupcake Inspirations 200th post and blog hop as I showed in my photo I used cupcake inspiration No 72
Emerald Faeries Bling #41
Natalie and Amy Die cuts #7
Crafty Ribbons anything goes with ribbon
Allsorts For a lady #196
Crafts and Me Dies or punches #122
Ribbon Girl add ribbon or twine
Cupcake Craft #232 sparkle
Papertake weekly anything goes
Passion for Promakers One for the ladies #188
Party Time Tuesdays die cuts #110

Today has been just glorious, clear blue skies and the first real warmth in the sunshine. I went to my silversmithing class and came home to have a cup of tea in the garden. This was my view. If it stays like this I will soon be able to open up my garden studio.
When I stood up to take the photo Billy decided it was a very good place to sit....so I had to get out another chair for me. We were even joined by his little shy friend Blackie too
and I found that the very first of my outdoor daffs have come out to greet the sunshine
Dare I whisper the final line of my favourite Daffodowndilly poem by A.A.Milne......"Winter is dead?"

Squeal.......all is well in Jane's World. 

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x


27 comments:

  1. Oh winter has long gone Jane, without a doubt!!!
    That cat, really, he is a hoot. ;)
    Gorgeous card but I think you're right not really shoes for walking trails in. :)
    What a lovely walk and what a gorgeous day you had to do it in. Hopefully there will be many beautiful walking days from now on!
    V xxx

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  2. Absolutely divine - LOVE the colors and those swirls are magnificent!!

    Thank you so much for playing along with Cupcake Inspirations 200th Challenge - good luck!!

    ~Michele

    AND thanks for joining us at Ladybug Crafts Ink - add a #!!

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  3. Thanks Jane for taking us along on your early spring walk. You're lucky to have such a nice path/trail close by!!
    Pretty cupcakes and a very pretty card. Here's to more walks, cards and getting out in your own garden with Billy.

    Happy Tuesday,
    Anne
    PlumCreek22 Studio

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  4. Thank you for sharing more lovely photos Jane. Oddly enough my dentist was telling me about the Wandle Trail last week, he and his wife went there for a walk the other Sunday and he said how lovely it was.

    Your card is a little bit different for you, but really lovely and a fabulous take on the inspirational cakes.

    B x

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  5. Great photos of your walk, Jane - the Wandle Trail really does look lovely and I'm sure is a real haven in the city! I'm so lucky where I live that we have nature on our doorstep - the only down side is having to travel 15 miles just to do the food shopping!!
    Love your choice of cupcake inspiration and fab card to match! I would break my neck in those heels, but a girl can dream! (I NEED that memory box bow die - I've seen it a few times now and just adore it!) Hugs, Lisa x

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  6. Hello Jane.. oh my goodness, what a nice trail hike you went on.. love the pond photo! I shared with hubby how Billy took your chair and so you had to get another chair out and we both agreed that Billy is very spoiled. :-) ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  7. Hi Jane, Such a lovely walk you had. It almost looked like Spring.......but it really looked like Spring in your backyard! Billy, oh sweet Billy, he is so funny and what a companion he is.
    I sure hope winter is dead for this year.
    Love your card and that is a great stamp, good luck with the challenge.
    xoRobin❤

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  8. Rocky and Ruby would LOVE the Wandle Trail Jane...I've found a new walk recently and we hardly meet a soul...perfect! I love your card..the pink, black and silver are a brilliant combination. Like M Pee I think the swirls are fabtastic. Thanks for joining in our Add A Number challenge at LCI this fortnight xx

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  9. Love all those swirlies on the shoes and your coloring--superb! Your take on the Cupcake Inspiration photo is perfect! Thanks for sharing our 200th Challenge celebration! Good luck!
    {hugs}
    Debbie
    CIC DT Sweetie

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  10. wow Jane such wonderful photo's and love your card simply gorgeous

    thanks for your lovely comment, it was not newspaper, we stamped onto plain card and then stamped either music scoring or text onto this after masking the hair before adding a paper pieced dress

    Hugs Kate xx

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  11. Love all the photos Jane, it looks like a wonderful walk. Fabulous card too. And your garden looks great.
    Hugs
    Caz x

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  12. Gorgeous card Jane, love the colours and a great image. Thanks for joining us at Ladybug Crafts Ink for our number challenge.
    Hugs Sally xxx

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  13. Beautiful Card! I love pink. Thanks for joining us at PFP this week.
    Hugs

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  14. ooh la la c'est tres chic! Gorgeous colours
    Thanks for joining us at LCI this fortnight
    Lisa

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  15. Hi Jane! How wonderful places for a walk! First time I see batbox - hb thinks they bring good luck. We have lots of them flying around in the summer evenings.
    Your new card is beautiful and glamurous! Lovely inspiration from the cupcakes!
    I'm so happy to see that you have enjoyed the garden with Billy and I hope you can open your studio very soon! x Teje

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  16. Hello Jane What a wonderful walk! You are right, spring is here!! Love the stylish new card, and the pretty cupcakes. Have a happy sunny rest of the week!
    Helen x

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  17. Fab card and gorgeous photos. Love the garden and hope you are right! Glad you could join us at the Emerald Faeries Challenge. Good luck! hugs, judit x

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  18. Lovely card and LOVE all your photos too! but my fav photo is the cat looking at the house from the garden Chair! tehehehe Thanks for sharing with us this time at Allsorts, hugs Samantha :0)

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  19. What a lovely place to walk. It's hard to believe how far ahead your part of the world is from mine. I don't think I'll see daffodils for another month or so.

    Glad to see Billy is out and about enjoying the sights!

    Jane T

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  20. Dear Jane,

    I can't believe how green and beautiful it already is at yours! We have this never-ending-snow... So it's wonderful to see your springly images...I wish I could wander those paths too!

    Have a lovely weekend (really!) soon, and kisses to that handsome boy again!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  21. This is a great card and I love the colours. Thank you for joining us at A & T Emerald Faeries. Good Luck xoxoxo

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  22. Fabulous pink card ... love those shoes!

    Thanks for sharing with us at Totally Gorjuss this time..

    Christine x

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  23. so stunning jane.really gorgeous girly image and i love your pretty colours.
    thanks so much for joining us this week at PFP :D

    xx coops xx

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  24. Hi Jane,
    It looks like you had a great time walking I might have to have a wander there :D
    Your card is gorgeous and I can see exaclty how the cakes have inspired you.
    Thank you for joining us at Natalie and Amy's and good luck.

    Huge hugs

    Amy xx

    P.S. If you would like to go on a crafty weekend or a day break there are still spaces on the one I run yearly in October. For more information CLICK HERE

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  25. Such a sweet and adorable card! Love the colors and touch of sparkle! Thanks for joining my challenge over at Cupcake Craft Challenge this week! Good Luck! Hugs and sunshine

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  26. This is such a fun card. Beautiful colors and the decorations. Thanks for joining us at Party Time Tuesdays.

    Kim - PTT DT

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  27. Hi Jane, what a gorgeous card. I love the image and your colouring is perfect. Thanks so much for joining us at PFP this week. Hugs, Denise x

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Jane x