Sewing the seeds of hope, Mindful Moments 7

Hello again I am back with my 7th Mindful Moments post. I am a day early this week as tomorrow is May 1st and I will have 2 design team posts going up so I thought I would post today. 

If you did not see my first post and wonder what these are do check it out here. Thank you to everyone who has been reading them. I can see from my stats that these are getting at least twice the usual traffic of my other posts, which has really inspired me to keep trying to get them written weekly if I can. I really hope you are finding them a moment to make you smile and stay mindful during these very turbulent times.

The rain finally arrived on Monday and I must admit here in the south east of England it is much needed. The whole of April has been virtually dry and my garden had a good drink.

Today I thought I would share my seeds project which I have been growing since Lockdown.

When I was tidying up at the beginning of Lockdown, I found a whole bunch of seed packets which were free last year with Gardener's World Magazine and with the usual busyness of life I never got round to planting them. I was even (whispers) going to throw them out as I could never see myself getting the time to do this as I tend to buy my few annual plants from our local nursery. Although I am hoping to still get my plants from them this year (they are trying to set up a delivery service while they are shut) I thought that watching some annuals grow from seed would they make for an interesting process. I could add them to my rather empty raised beds this year that by the time they flowered life might have moved on from where we were. I decided to try planting the cosmos and rudbeckia seeds.

The instructions said to use seed compost but all I have is multi purpose left over from my spring bulb planting. I decided that Mother Nature does not have seed compost and still manages just fine so I would make do with what I had. I found in the garage a tiny seed propagator, I must have used this years ago, perfect for covering them until they germinated.

 In my crafting stash I have coloured lolly sticks so they served as my markers

The lid went on and I put them on the kitchen side

 Unbelievably after just 5 days as it was so warm and sunny they started to sprout, first the cosmos

and then the rudbeckia

 After 2 weeks the cosmos were big enough to prick out

So I put 7 of them into pots again found in my garage

and here they are today.
My cosmos

 and rudbekkia

I don't have a green house so this is very much a make do and mend project but I am hoping that in a few more weeks I can harden them off and put them outside.

I also hope to get some plants delivered in mid May from my local nursery and it would be great fun if I can add my own grown to my pots too!

Something else to make you smile today is a bag I was sent by my son in law's parents. They saw this and thought of me when they were on a cruise last year and sent it as a belated birthday present.

 Isn't it hilarious...it's A4 size so I keep my current crafting project in it. I smile every time I look at it.

 Out on my walks I have seen lovely bluebells growing. I will miss not seeing the spectacle in Banstead woods this year but never mind, there is always next year.

and there is wisteria in plenty on local houses.  

The dinos are doing well with their babies

and we spotted these fluffy Canada geese babies yesterday

plus lots of sweet ducklings

 who are already growing quickly.

My Mindful Moment project today uses a really fun ancient set of pig stamps I found in my stash when I was spring cleaning last month. As many of you know I have a "thing" for pigs and they feature in my house a lot. The company , Little Claire's, are sadly no longer trading.

I used an old Wendy Vecchi stamp for the very apt sentiment. The background I made using distress inks.

with a close up

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

Addicted to stamps and More 1/3 make your mark

The house that stamps built 3/3 anything goes

Simon says stamp Wednesday  Anything goes

Crafty Creations 1/3 anything goes
Through the craft room door 1/3 anything goes

I would like to end with a little quote which I think is so very true, particularly in these very troubled times when it is so hard not living our normal lives;

The most important seed you can plant is kindness; the most important crop it yields is joy.”

― Matshona Dhliwayo

Let's keep planting those seeds of kindness and we can look forward to the joy it will eventually bring us. 

Please keep safe, keep mindful, keep washing those hands and looking around at the beauty and inspiration from Mother Nature.

Thanks so much for stopping by and for the kind comments you have taken the time to leave me, they are so appreciated.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

With love, Jane x

A sparkling rainbow Monday with Visible Image

Good morning, a fortnight has rolled round and it is time for my regular Monday design team post for Visible Image. Did you know that aside from the Visible Image business page on Facebook they also have a private group page where everyone adds their inspiration? If not do check out this link. There is another very good reason for joining us over there as there is a Rainbow challenge which runs until 30th April. It has really inspired everyone to get out their Visible Image stamps and create some gorgeous rainbow creations. There are also so fab prizes up for grabs so do come over and join in with the fun. The winners are drawn by random so everyone has an equal chance of winning and it is open to entries worldwide. There is also no limit to your entries, now that is win win in my books!

For my Monday Make today I decided to make a rainbow inspired piece and used a set which I do not get out often enough. I know I say this a lot but it is awesome and if you would like 20% off it keep reading to the bottom of my post. I thought that the sentiment too was just perfect for these socially isolated times we find ourselves in.
Sparkle in the rain

I created a rainbow background using my distress ink sprays adding water and allowing them to "rain" down the card.

Once competely dry I stamped the sentiment in black and clear embossed it. I stamped my umbrella lady and embossed using WOW sparkly glitter embossing powder. This gave her an incredible sparkle, always so hard to catch on camera.

Next I got out my lovely Kaleidoscope ink pad from years back and stamped some rainbow rain

and added some sequins. I added some puddles with the same ink using the fab puddle stamp.

 By adding Glossy accents it allowed them to smudge a little and look even more realistic.

To finish off I matted her onto black card and added a white gel pen highlight around her.
Here is my finished Rainbow Umbrella lady.

with a couple of close ups

and 1 last shot;

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

Addicted to stamps and More 2/3 anything goes

The house that stamps built 2/3 anything goes
Stamping sensations 1/3 Somewhere over the rainbow

Simon says stamp Monday Create a scene

Alphabet challenge 3/3 A is for anything goes

A bit more time to craft 2/3 anything goes
Through the craft room door 1/3 anything goes

All the Visible Image links are listed below

Visible Image group page on Facebook. Our friendly Group is here ...it would be lovely to see you there. You will see lots of gorgeous makes by the DT and customers to inspire your own creativity.

The main Visible Image Facebook page is here; there are regular giveaways...open world wide. Do check out the Facebook LIVES and videos where you will be able to see lots of the samples we have been making with the new release in the flesh!

Their Instagram page can be found here

Pinterest here

There is also a fab discount code for now KEEPSTAMPING which will give you 20% off everything on the website. This just perfect for crafters who are sending out cards to help raise people's spirits at this time. Visible Image is a small husband and wife team who are still shipping here in the UK and abroad for as long as they are able to . 

And once again the shop web site is here; where all their gorgeous stamps and stencils can be purchased.

Our Rainbow challenge has 4 more days to run, with some great prizes. The link is above. Perhaps you might join us and then send what you have made to someone you care for and cannot see in person for now? 

Back soon,

Stay safe and stay creative,

Bye for now,

Jane x

When there are blue skies, Mindful Moments 6

Hello and welcome to my 6th Mindful Moments. If you did not see my first post and wonder what these are do check it out here.  Thank you to everyone who has been reading them. I can see from my stats that these are getting at least twice the usual traffic of my other posts, which has really inspired me to keep trying to get them written weekly if I can. I really hope you are finding them a moment to make you smile and stay mindful during these very turbulent times. 

Mother Nature is still being very kind to me here in South East England by sending another week of wall to wall sunshine and clear blue skies from dawn to dusk. There was a little bit of a chilly wind earlier in the week but the last few days have been very warm.

So what have I been up to? Well I am still enjoying my gorgeous newly landscaped garden, with lots of lunches and breaks taken outside. 

The acers are looking stunning in their pots

My bulbs are still blooming away. The daffs are nearly finished but now the tulips have come out

and how about these, which opened over a few days......

 into scarlet and yellow beauties

The spring blossom I have seen on my daily socially distanced walks has been breathtaking

and we can now "cast a clout" as the May is out!

I also spotted these gorgeous camellia

and the joy of this week....I spotted my first dino babies!

So I have a lot to be grateful for this courtesy of Mother Nature. What joy she can bring.

My Mindful Moment Make this week is a card I made for my Hb, I was so inspired by the sunshine that I made an inky sunny background and used my new delightful stamp set by the lovely Tracey Easson. I coloured the mice with zig pens and added some glossy accents to the stars.

Because these gorgeous clear skies during the day really do make the stars shine bright. 

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

Addicted to stamps and More 1/3 anything goes

The house that stamps built 1/3 anything goes

Simon says stamp Monday Create a scene

A bit more time to craft 3/3 anything goes

Creative artiste 2/3 anything goes

I found this little quote for today by John Burroughs, I think it sums me up!

I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order. 

Please keep safe, keep mindful, keep washing those hands and looking around at the beauty and inspiration from Mother Nature.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

With love, Jane x