Sunshine after the rain and some Kewpie cuties

The rain on Saturday was quite spectacular and it came down in sheets for most of the day. My very parched garden had its first decent drop of rain for well over 6 weeks. I took advantage of not being able to garden and disappeared to my studio for a few hours to have some crafty play.

On Sunday the sun returned at lunch time and as we sat out in the garden the clouds started to clear
and we watched the huge cotton wool clouds floating overhead.

  

I also noticed all the rain drops hanging on my plants like glistening dew drops.

 There was also that amazing heady damp earth smell that takes me back to summers past. As my other blogging friends have commented there are some signs that autumn is just around the corner but certainly today summer is well and truely still here.
My fussy fushias have been show stoppers this year, this variety is called Blackie.

I also bought a very pretty patio rose. As you know I am not that pink a girlie but I do love this new rose called Gentle Touch

The eagle eyed of you will notice something long hanging down the wall where I was trying to photograph my rose,  yes it's none other than Inspector Billy ;0)

The colour of the rose inspired me to make a new card for my Etsy shop. It is a new baby girl card to replace one I recently sold. It is also good practice for me for when our grandbaby arrives.
I decided to use a wonderful image which was kindly sent to me by Ignacio, owner of Nicecrane designs.

My Mum remembers the original Kewpies which were around in the 1930s.  I also love these whimsical babies and I first saw one inked up by my blogging buddy Kate. I chose to use the girl sitting down and coloured mine up using Promarkers and Prismacolor pencils and fussy cut out the image.
I used my floral oval die to place her on. My sentiment is LOTV and I attached a cute stork charm. The little line die cut is Memory Box. The DPs are ancient, I bought them from the Craft Barn many, many years ago. The pearls are from The Hobby House. Here is my finished card and she is for sale here

What a cutie Kewpie. If you are interested in other designs, including a fab new brownie range do have a look over at the website. I also had a play with colouring another of the designs...here is a sneaky peek but you will have to wait to see the finished card ;0)

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

Papercrafting Journey anything goes
Addicted to stamps Option 2, use a Nicecrane image
Make it Monday Linky Party
Pile it on designer paper
Craft room challenge new something my new is this stamp
Totally Gorjuss add a bow
2 sisters Square cards
Pan Pastels pastel colours
The Cutie Pies anything goes
Pink Gem anything with a B my Bs are bow and baby
A little Bit Crafty summer sun, 3rd and final entry

I have put my new post up today as tomorrow I am off to my stamping class and on Tuesday evening/Wednesday I am catching up with my girlie. It will be great to have some time off work. I hope the weather was kind to you over the weekend too. Thanks for stopping by my post on Saturday and for all the very kind comments you left about my wedding Smash Album. I will be back soon. Have a great week,

Bye for now,

Jane x