Valley of the Butterflies

Many years ago, on a first trip to the island of Rhodes, I visited a breathtakingly beautiful place known as The Valley of the Butterflies (or Petaloudes).

The wooded valley is inhabited by literally millions of Jersey Tiger Moths in the months between July and September. When I was there we had to speak in whispers and very occasionally our guide would blow a little whistle whereupon it seemed as if the bark of the trees which was covered with resting moths literally came to life and fluttered around us in beautiful swathes of rusty orange coloured wings. Sadly I believe that too many visitors and not enough consideration over the energy these lovely creatures use when disturbed have changed the moth population's survival rate :(

I was thinking about the valley yesterday after we'd been sat sitting in the garden marvelling at the huge number of butterflies fluttering round the buddleias and the idea for this card just popped into my mind:

I used:

- cream card stock, folded tent style with one corner rounded

- SU 'Early Espresso' card, embossed with Tim Holtz folder 'Woodgrain'

- a snippet of twine

- 3 butterflies die cut using butterfly dies Memory Box, the solid one is 'Isabella' and the matching 'lacy' one is 'Pippi' - a snippet of terracotta patterned paper was used for the solid wings and a snippet of plain toning terracotta card for the lacy part and body/antenna

- sentiment is Elzybells, stamped using Brilliance 'Pearlescent Chocolate'

 

This is part of the walk through the valley, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Edit: Just spotted a challenge of at Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - this is the inspiration photo:

 

It sort of rocked me on my heels after what I'd written here today - I have the tree bark, butterfly plus the brown and terracotta on my card so I'm going to join in :)

Di

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