A scorcher

What amazing weather we have enjoyed in the South of England for the last few days. It hit the 30s at the weekend just in time for the Wimbledon finals. How exciting was that! For the first time in 77 years we have a British men's singles champion, well done Andy. It was a wonderful match.

The weather continues with very high temperatures and my card today is very appropriate, a real summer scorcher. It is my second Guest Designer card for the Loves Rubberstamps Challenge.

 We are showcasing digi stamps by C C Designs. My cute stamp is called Watermelon Abigail. Mmm her watermelon looks so inviting. This week the theme for the challenge is to used a hoarded item. I know many of us crafters do this. I do this big time with some of my artisan lampwork beads, I just love to look at them ;0) Now amongst my hoarded card making things are these pretty little heart buttons. I have them in several colours and they have sat in my button tin for ages as I love to just look at them. Today 2 of the green ones have finally seen the light of day in the corners of my card.

Here is a close up to show one of my hoarded buttons.
My backing papers are a download from Cardmaking and Papercraft. I coloured Abigail with my Promarkers and highlight with my Prismacolor pencils.
I used Kraft paper for my matting. The central die is I think an old sizzix.
The fun scrabble pieces are a download from Fuzzimo.
The shell dies cuts are Marianne and the birthday sentiment  tag is one of my old Lili of the Valley tags. The ribbon is one of my many, (yes I am a lucky girl) wins this year.

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

Ladybug Crafts Ink Birthdays
Heck of a Challenge at the sea
Country View Crafts summer sizzler
A little Bit Crafty dying for it..use dies
Emerald Faeries Birthday
Rhedd and Rosie Here comes summer
Jelly Park Summer
A Creative Romance Use ribbon or twine
Ribbon Girls add a bow
Stamping Sensations summer colours
Allsorts favourite things my favourite things are of course the buttons and also Kraft paper which I love to use with all sorts of colourways. It works so well for any card occasions.
Clearly I stamp summertime


I have put her into my Etsy shop here for sale

This recent heat wave also made me thing that it was also a good time to share some more of my recent holiday snaps from Kephalonia.
One of our drives took us to  Assos, an incredibly picturesque spot. The drive down to the town is around hairpin bends but the views at the bottom are so worth it.

This is where we sat to have our picnic, in the cool shade of the pine trees. The smell was just delicious and it made me think of Christmas ;0)...just a bit warmer.
Behind us, up a steep 1.8 km walk was  the ruins of a Venetian Castle. Before we had our lunch we had walked to the summit. It was hot but the views on the way up and at the castle were stunning.

The pathway was very well made so there was no danger of falling over the side. Believe me I have no head for heights at the best of times.We were alone, not many people seem to attempt the walk.

We climbed up and up until the town looked smaller and smaller in the distance.

Eventually we reached the castle at the top.

It was so cool at the entrance, the stone walls were incredibly thick. We found it impossible to imagine how it was built in the 15th Century. Sadly it was probably slaves who did the donkey work.

Inside the castle were just ruins and it was completely deserted. It was fun just wandering around. The only sound was the crickets chirping in the intense heat.

After our wander and a sit in the shade to drink our water, it was time to return to  Assos to collect our car. On the drive back to Skala we stopped at a viewing point on the coastal road to admire the amazing beach of Myrtos. This is one of the beaches on Kephalonia where the sea turtles often come to nest.

It was late in the afternoon and it felt as though we were above the clouds in heaven. It really was the most gorgeous sight. I shall leave you with a few photos of this breathtaking view.

Thanks so much for visiting and the kind comments you leave me. I will be back soon.

I hope the sun is shining for your all too, if not, there is more than enough for me to share with you...enjoy ;0)

I am getting really excited for the end of the week as we are off to the gardens of Buckingham Palace, no less, to enjoy the Coronation Festival. I shall of course be taking my trusty camera.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x