Thank You

Warning - this post is photo heavy! 😉

We returned from a lovely week in Derbyshire this weekend.  My hubby and I were away in a big house with five other couples.  This is the 30th year the twelve of us have taken an annual holiday together in different places around the country.......how time flies!  I made this Thank You card for the couple who organise our holiday every year.  The view from our bedroom window gave me the inspiration for the design. (Photo lower down in the post.)

I seem to be a bit addicted to including cross stitching on my cards lately.  I used a Marianne cross stitch die in thick white card and cut it into a square using a Memory Box 'Stitched Square' die.  I found an image on Pinterest and adapted it for cross stitching, using crochet cotton for the stitching.  The sentiment is a stamp from the Crafters Companion 'Sew Lovely' set and stamped in Versafine 'Majestic Blue'.  I used punches for the flowers. 

I am joining in the following challenges:

Simon Says Monday Challenge ~ Vacation (inspired by view on holiday)

HLS June Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

This was the view from our bedroom window which gave me the inspiration for the card.

We enjoyed some English culture watching the Morris dancers.....

.....walked miles admiring the fabulous views.....

..... and found lots of wildlife.

We explored a Derbyshire town in an amazing converted milk float.....

....and discovered an incredible church, dating back to 1625, which was a converted barn.

The inside of the church was beautiful......

.....and part of the ceiling was decorated in the style of William Morris.

On the journey home we stopped at the National Memorial Arboretum.

On Sunday we had our annual street party, where we set up gazebos in the sunshine.

Then the rain came!  There was plenty of room to fit 30+ people under cover, so we had a great time eating and chatting with our neighbours.

So, now I'm off to catch up on some blog visiting......