Crafts and Me

So we have a great challenge for you over at  Fab'n'Funky Challenges

Our challenge this week is:

Floral Embelishments
(and floral print paper isn't enough)

 Our lovely sponsor this week is:

Crafts and Me

 This lovely image is "Summer-Days by Jeremiah-Ketner" I really like Jeremiah's designs, they have a beautiful delicacy. I created a stamped border to frame the image without detracking from it.

 I created the border using a two-step stamp set. The delicate ribbons are the loops from a top (waste not want not).

Unfortunately when I put it on the stand to take the photo it fell off and the small clay butterfly I made, smashed. The three dots you can see in the top righthand corner of the orangey backing are an emergency addition to disguise the glue.

I will make a new butterfly to share with you all when I have a embelishment making session.

Please remember to visit all the lovely ladies at Fab'n'Funky and leave them some good vibes.

Thank you to everyone who read my Japan blog posts. 
Back shortly
Hugs
Buffy xx

Masked Coffee Man

So back to crafting, I had a card to make for one of my workmates and lucky for me he's mad about coffee. Why is this lucky for me...because I bought a fabulous coffee stamp set a few months ago and I have been dying to make the perfect birthday card with it.

The Male Room are having a Masking challenge which is just right for the design I dreamt up.

So I stamped the cafetiere first on a post-it note then onto a white piece of card. I covered the cafetiere with the cut out post-it image and stamped the the coffee cup. I raised the cup image up a little to give a slightly more dimensional feel.
Card:- S.U. Chocolate Chip,
Stamp-set:- For the Love of Stamps - Coffee Time
Promarkers - Tan, Cinnamon and Henna

Back soon with more sharing
Hugs
Buffy xx

Finally of Day 5

I meant to write this up a few days ago, but unfortunately my husband started to feel ill and that took presidency over blogging.
When your are in a foreign country with minor language skills it's a little bit worrying, but he is fairing well and getting plenty of rest.
So where were we....

 Another of the Rakan carvings, this one has a beautiful pillar that is topped by a lotus-like flower. The skill and dedication of the masons who carved all of this is most admirable.
It's also lovely to have something that makes you giggle

Mawgan couldn't resist snapping a quick piccie of a sign that really doesn't apply to us, since we're vertically challenged ;-)
After quite a long walk in 28C heat and a humidity of approx 80% we reach....

Diabutsu of Nihon-ji

This is the largest statue of a Buddha in Japan. In 1969 in underwent a 4 year reconstruction to repair severe damage. If you look closely to the right-hand side you can see stone bricks & mortar. It was originally built in 1780 by Jingoro Eirei Ono and his 27 apprentices. They dedicated 3 years to it's construction. It stands 28 metres high, pedestal & figure. 

I can tell you when you are stood in front of it it is totally awe inspiring.

I took this photo whilst kneeling, to show respect for this religious site. 

I realise that might seem silly to some but I have always believed in showing respect for beliefs and traditions when visiting a foreign country. 

We were also extremely lucky to have gotten a photo of this beautiful Japanese resident

A member of the swallowtail family, this butterfly was approximately 6 inches long (including the tails) with a wing span of approx 9 inches. The photo is a little blurry because these butterflies do not hold still. The flower it's sitting on is about 8ft high. 

As you are leaving the Nokogiri-yama you pass several shrines, this is a pray shrine. On the left of the photo you can see all the prayers that people have written.

I'm afraid I'm not going to show any more images of this majestic place. Photo's can never tell the true power of this great mountain, only a visit can do that.

I will be back soon to share a few more things we saw and learned whilst we were in Japan and hopefully they will help you when you go...

Back soon

Hugs

Buffy xx

Day 5 adventure continues

After the Hyakushaku Kannon it was another up hill climb. But absolutely worth it.

This is Jigoku Nozoki (View of Hell) is an over hang that is very popular. The views are stunning and many people venture out to take selfies. You may notice a couple with their backs pressed up against the fence not far from the edge, well they had just snapped a selfie seconds before I took this shot. WARNING - the ground underfoot on the approach to the overhang is uneven so I wouldn't recommend attempting to reach the view point if you have any ankle, knee or hip issues.

Unfortunately it was a little hazy so we were unable to get the furthest view. But even this is a lovely view.

As we start our descent we reach our next point of interest. This is Saigoku Kannon.

These represent the Rakan, early disciples of Buddha. There are 1500 Rakan here at Mt. Nokogiri. They were carved between 1779 and 1798. You may notice several of the heads are missing, this happened when a revolt ensued. Some have been replaced.

I would love to show you more but I think it is now bedtime. Come back tomorrow for the final installment of our Mt. Nokogiri adventure.

I've saved the best for last

Hugs

Buffy xx