Wanderlust catch up and a sneaky peek at a garden

 Hi everyone, I have finally finished the herb tray - there were a few gaps that are now filled in, I finally found somewhere that had some dill.

It seems to be well used too!

I also replaced my own chives, as the plant I had wasn't doing well at all, and I found some Moroccan mint that smells amazing.

We had a full day out on Thursday, it was a good job I had organised our evening meal as we were later home than intended. I can't wait to show you photos on Tuesday! 

Wanderlust pages have been going well, some of you may have seen some on Instagram.

These were from Kate Crane's lesson for week 23 - a really super way to create a background for a found words poem

I followed Kate with flowers, hubby added his own choice of images.

Vicky Papaioannu was teacher for week 24. I was brave and cut into some Stamperia papers - well Vicky did, so she sort of gave me permission. Now I have cut into them I will be using more! I love the way she did the lettering. I think by now you know which are hubby's pages!

I added some more butterflies so I hope this is acceptable for Mia's theme 'Butterflies' at Art Journal Journey.

For Week 25 Kasha Avery set a real challenge for me - using black and white again - I never used to use much of either but now I really love using them.

A little bit sticky, but we both like our finished pages. Hubby thinks he needs help but believe me he really isn't the pain he thinks he is!!

Here is little taster of what is to come on Tuesday.

We really did visit the most amazing place!

Thanks for looking, Chris

 

T Stands for.......Tasty!

 Hi everyone, we're going out again, somewhere familiar but beautiful.

We have been having regular outings lately, one when we go for our Click and Collect grocery order and then another 2 or 3 days later.

We both have taken far to many photos of the places we have been so I really must try to fit in another post in the week!

This was our second outing of the week, even though it is the closest to home - we had a plan!!!

Quarry Bank Mill can be reached via the woods by the village I showed you last week, although on this occasion we had booked in for the Gardens and parked in the Car park.

The Greenhouses have been opened up

 

There's still a rope across this one though

The Sweet Peas are growing well and smell fabulous

The Peonies and Poppies look great but I had come to see the Irises before they finished - some are almost over so pleased we got here in time!

The falling Rhododendron blossoms make a great carpet

We stopped for a while as our favourite bench was vacant....

...but then it was time to head off to Notcutts Garden Centre restaurant.

We had been looking forward to this for a while...

Fish, chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. Not only did we eat it all but we shared a mint choc chip sundae. We were brought an extra glass and spoon! 

We also, as you can see had water and coffee to drink!

I must say, the rest of the afternoon was taken at a leisurely pace!!

Hubby is teasing here and saying he isn't going to share.

It is here of course that I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands for Tuesday!

I'll be back with our latest Wanderlust pages very soon.

Thanks for looking, Chris

Here comes Summer at TIOT

 Yes, at last...it's officially Summer, and even though it was going to be the end of most restrictions here in the UK, (we are going to have to wait a few weeks more)it is Summer and to celebrate our new theme at Try It On Tuesday is 'Here Comes Summer'

The Design Team have lots of ways to celebrate - see here.

I don't eat much ice-cream as it plays havoc with my blood sugar levels, but every so often when we come across those places that have an array of different flavours I can't resist!

I made a card for myself that sort of gives me permission to have an occasional ice cream cornet (although I confess that I always go to the Berthillon shop in Paris when we are there - twice if I can!!!)

I masked off the edges of my card and used an Aall and Create stencil and sponged through with some ice-cream colour distress inks.

The cute Janet Klein girl (also Aall and Create) is from a set called Choose Happy.

The sentiment was typed onto my label maker - a good quick way to get the words I wanted! 

The ice-cream cone is by Simon Says Stamp. If you think the ice-cream is a bit bright it is actually the same colour as the supermarket's Raspberry Sorbet, and is the one iced dessert I eat usually, along with fruit. It has low sugar and actually doesn't affect my sugar levels at all. I hope you can be happy with me......'Here Comes Summer' and although our challenge only runs for two weeks, lets hope we all have a good Summer!

We will all look forward to seeing your Summer entries - please look at the TIOT website for the rules and guidelines.

Thanks for looking, Chris

Bits and Pieces

Hi everyone, I have few bits and pieces to show you.

Time hasn't been on my side for while so there are one or two things to show.

First a journal page for Mia's theme  of 'Butterflies at Art Journal Journey.

I used a reverse stencil print for the background along with some added inking, then used one of my favourite butterfly stamps by Crafty Individuals along with some postmark stamps and extra text.

The other butterflies are a combination of some from my butterfly box!

I wrote the word 'Fly'.

Next I have tag for Tag Tuesday - 'Tag on a Tag' is Wendy's choice of theme.

I used an old tag as a base and added gold paint. The tag on top is an old clothing label to which I also added gold and graphite paint. The leaves are a Wendy Vecchi stamp, fussy cut.

A sentiment was added but doesn't show up so well on the photo - it says 'Life Is Good' I added some black spatters to finish it.

Finally, for Stamping Sensations 'I Love' theme, as I was playing with the Wendy Vecchi leaf stamp, I stamped a few leaves out to use up some scraps on my desk - I cut up a larger scrap of music paper top to mount them - they will probably end up in one or two of my junk journals.

I love making these scrappy pieces and find them addictive to make so I will show you more another day.

Thanks for looking, Chris

 

T Stands For....the project and more...

Hi everyone, I will stop you wondering soon...

I told you last week that we had picked something up from my son's house. First a little bit about an outing we had..

On Tuesday last week we went for a walk, foiled, as we had intended going to the Carrs but the car park was full. We headed back to Styall village (couldn't visit the Mill as I had left my card behind) 

Although we had visited the village from a different direction before we found that a nursery that we used to visit, and had been closed down near the airport, had relocated to the village, not only that, but just down the road is a community shop, gallery and cafe. 

We couldn't stay as we had a food shop to pick up so on Friday decided to go back there.(There is a point to this ramble)

The photos here were taken on Tuesday

We passed thatched cottages...

..and pretty gardens

This field is opposite the garden above and on Friday an Art Group were sitting here painting.

                                                                             

We went into the chapel gardens, the chapel is shut during the week.

Lots of buttercups...

...and Irises

The Nursery...

.....and what we came for

Here is why...

I had asked my son if he could make a trolley for the courtyard at our retirement complex to hold pots of herbs to be shared with other owners.

The idea being that both the chef here, and others can help themselves to sprigs of herbs for their cooking.

I have some herbs outside my front door but there is a good variety here that I will also be using!

Of course, we did visit the cafe on Friday, but I forgot to take photos so here is a coffee from when we went to Dunham Massey the other week - we are going again tomorrow so I may combine photos for another T day!

I am joining the T Day crew for T Stands for Tuesday over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog - The Altered Book Lover

If you would like to see our Wanderlust pages for week 21 they are here(the post previous to this one)

Oh!and one day we will back to the shop and cafe - I want to go upstairs to the gallery!

Thanks for looking, Chris