Wisley Gardens in winter

I haven't had a chance to share the photos from my recent visit to Wisley Gardens so I thought today would be the perfect time. 

I love catching up with my dear blogging friend Brenda as we share a real love of gardening and so enjoy our seasonal visits to Wisley Gardens in Surrey. Our latest visit was in January and I must admit I thought there would not little colour around. How delighted I was to be so wrong. There were lovely colours everywhere.

Outside we saw the Witch hazel in bloom

 and this amazing tree, not sure of its name though.

Early daffs were in bloom

and even iris were poking up out of the undergrowth.

In the green houses the colours were so vibrant and the flower shapes so unusual.

So all these lovely colours inspired my latest Valentine's card which is heading down to Dotty's Tea House today.
I used some vibrant distress inks and the stamps are by Visible Image. I die cut some hearts and finished off with some sequins.

A couple of close ups.

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

The crafty addicts 1/3 anything goes
Double D 1/3 hearts
Creative inspirations 1/3 with love
Addicted to stamps and more 1/3 make your mark

As you like it 2/3 fave shape or fold and why Mine is a 7X5" card blanks as these are so much easier to display than square ones at Dotty's Tea House where I sell my cards.
Stamping sensations 2/3 all things bright and beautiful
We love to create 2/3 anything goes mixed media
Lil patch of crafting friends 2/3 anything goes
Crafters castle 2/3 anything goes
Penny black and More 2/3 anything goes with the option of tags
Fashionable stamping 2/3 anything goes

Thanks for stopping by and for your very kind and supportive comments you have been leaving me, they are really appreciated.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Wisley in September

On Monday I met my dear blogging and crafting buddy Brenda at Wisely Royal Horticultural gardens in Surrey. We have seen these lovely gardens in spring, summer and now autumn this year and have so enjoyed seeing the changing seasons.

We have also been so incredibly lucky with the weather. Just look at those blue skies!

We enjoyed visitng the greenhouses

where so many of the exotic plants were in flower

We even spotted a late butterfly as we walked around the grounds.

We also noticed that the autumnal colours are making themselves noticed, depsite the 27c temperateure my car registered on the drive home.

It was such a lovely day. 

My card today is a sunny butterfly card up for sale at Dotty's Teahouse in Carshalton using Visible Image stmaps.

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

Stamping sensations 2/3 something beginning with B mine is butterfly.
Fashionable stamping 2/3 quote away
Pile it on 1/3 think big or 1 layer mine is a big sentiment
Pixie's snippets playground #335 I used a snippet of card to make my butterfly with.
The butterfly challenge the letter A I have gone with apricot

Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to leave your very kind comments. The wind seems to be really picking up today so stay safe it you are in the UK!

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Wisley in the sunshine

In May I enjoyed a spring day out with my dear blogging friend Brenda at Wisley, the Royal Horticultural Garden in Surrey. We had such a lovely time that we immediately booked in our diaries our next meeting, which was last week.
The weather could not have been kinder. We had clear blue skies, sunshine and heat. I thought I would share some more photos to show how much a garden can grown in just a few weeks. There was such an explosion of colour.
If you would like to see my post from our spring visit you can see it here

The lovely Brenda.

It was so hot that we escaped into the greenhouses (seriously) 

and found that a new fuchsia exhibition had started. There were the most gorgeous varieties on show.

This unusual  variety was one of my favourites. 

 Many of the greenhouse exotic plants were also flowering. 

and how about this very snakey looking specimen!

We even had a visitor to our table as we sat outside and enjoyed our lunch.

After lunch we had a wander around the lakes

followed by a cuppa and a shop in the garden centre.
We had  a fabulous day out, Brenda is a such lovely company and as a fellow gardening fan we have so much to chat about. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we have put our next Wisely date into our diaries for September. Wisley will then be showing off her autumnal colours,

My card today was inspired by our sunny visit and is up for sale at Dotty's Teahouse.

 I made a sunny flower embossed background for my Lili of the Valley simply print digi image. The stamped sentiment is also Lili of the Valley. I die cut some foliage and a flower from snippets of inky mop up card . A bottle of champers seemed the right embellishment to add. Cheers!

I added some gold glitter the the centre of the flowers.

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

Pixie's snippets playground #330
Crafty calendar 1/3 totally girlie
Crafty Catz 1/3 anything goes/summer fun
As you like it 1/3 favourite occasion  for this card it is birthdays..what is more exciting than celebrating on your own special day and being spoilt.
Card Mania 4/5 anything goes
Simon says stamp Wednesday fun in the sun
Not just cards 1/3 anything goes
Addicted to stamps and more 1/3 birthday

Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind comments you take the time to leave me. I really do appreciate them. We are still enjoying the summer sunshine but it thankfully has cooled down just a little. I am off to catch up with my Mum and Dad today. Enjoy your Thursday.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Wisley wonders

A few weeks ago I met my dear blogging friend Brenda at Wisley in Surrey. For those of you who are not familiar Wisley is one of the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens and is a real gem. My Hb and I used to go very regularly but I haven't been for about 6 years. Wow things there have really moved on..the plantings now are just gorgeous. These are a few photos from our lovely day.

A field of alliums.

Peonies the size of saucers.

and stunning alpines in the rock gardens.

Years ago my Hb and I bought a shrub from Wisely and could never remember its name...Brenda and I found it

 Cornus kousa var.chinesia ..a variety of dogwood

and here is my one at home...

We loved our visit so much that we already have a date in the diary to meet again in July and see Wisley in full summer mode.
For my card challenge today I am sharing a floral tag. The lovely girl dancer, nest and branch stamps  are by Rubber Dance. I coloured her with watercolour pens.

I added some Tim Holtz remnant rubs too and some die cut flowers and butterflies.
It sums up our wonderful day out.

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

Rubber Dance 1/3  colour challenge or make a tag
Pixie's snippets playground #328
Creative artiste 1/3 anything goes #39
Penny Black and More 1/3 in the garden
The butterfly challenge letter M I have gone with 3 elements, moss green, mint green and marble effect (I achieved this using inks, stencilling and blending).
Simon says stamp Monday anything but a card
That's Crafty 2/3 A summer's day
Craft stamper take it make it June



Thanks for stopping by and for your very kind comments. Enjoy the end of the week and have a lovely weekend when we get there.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x