Things that grow...

The challenge at http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ this week is to be creative using the theme of things that grow. Thinking about growth made me remember a wonderful blog I looked at last summer where a talented crafter called Katy kindly shared her ideas, instructions and templates to make seed packets.

You can visit her blog at http://katydidcreations.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/07/seed-packets-ev.html.

Her cards are beautiful and the templates she provides are great as a starting point for your own ideas. Thank you Katy!

I used the template for the Snowman Seed packet and fastened the packet to acetate with ribbon to give movement and also allow both sides of the seed packet to show.

The card at the top of this posting was made using a stamped image on the seed packet and the one on the right has a very cute snowman sticker from my craft stash on it.

Inside the seed packets I put metal snowflakes - ready to be planted, but obviously not suitable for giving to very young children.

On the back of the seed packet I attached planting instructions - hence the very good reason for being able to see both sides of the packet.

As the packet is attached with ribbon it can be easily undone and removed from the card so that the seeds can be used.

After completing the snowman cards I wanted to try out the other
seed packets on Katy's blog. I decided to have a go at making a friendship seed packet card.

Again I used acetate so that both sides of the seed packet could be seen. This time I printed an image on to the seed packet label and then used a matching backing paper printed on vellum to make the seed packet itself.


This card would make a lovely gift as you could add seeds appropriate to the time of year - I'm adding winter pansy seeds to mine as it's not too late to plant these this month.















This is a picture of the inside of the card showing the back of the seed packet - no instructions on this one - although you could of course add planting instructions suitable for the seeds inside (only just thought of that!!! - will have to add!).

The inner is printed with a quote I particularly like and a thank you message.

Think this is my longest post ever - I do hope it saves and works properly.

Snow much fun...

The challenge at http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2008/07/challenge-6-snow-much-fun.html this week is 'snow much fun' and involves incorporating snow into your design in some way and of course using a Penny Black stamp.

As I hadn't got any Penny Black Christmas stamps the challenge gave me the perfect excuse (as if I need encouraging) to treat myself to one of the brilliant sheets of clear rubber stamps that Penny Black produce. I bought the Christmas Critters set which includes 8 really cute images and a xmas greeting - what a bargain?

The papers are by DCWV and the image was coloured using Derwent Inktense pencils crayons. It's hard to see in the photo but the lantern and floor is glittered with snow.

Flowers...

I love the colour of this oriental floral image and backing paper and was lucky enough to find some pearlescent blue card in my stash that was a perfect match for the flowers. The card is for the challenge at http://themethursday.wordpress.com/ which has the theme of flowers this week.

The main floral image is decoupaged and I have added a tiny amount of glitter to the centre of each of the flowers to add interest.

Hearts...

The challenge at http://themethursday.wordpress.com/ is to use 'hearts' in your artwork. I chose this heart shaped silhouette image of a small boy and girl cutting out paper hearts together. The image and backing paper are from the new CD 'Silhouette Magic' at Ooh-la-la-Creations.

The verse is one of the many free ones to be found at http://www.imag-e-nation.com/ . Something about it made me feel it was perfect to go with this image. The verse (although you can't tell from the photo) is matted onto vellum to allow the backing paper to show through.

Tea for two...

A small card to send a friend - maybe as an invite to share a coffee together. This card is for our new challenge at http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/2008/07/challenge-8-tea-for-two.html. This week's challenge is on the theme 'Tea for two'.

My image and backing paper are taking from the 'Ooh-la-la-Creations' CD 'Passion for Fashion'.

This card is also perfect for the challenge at http://artygirlzchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/arty-girlz-weekly-challenge-44-eras.html which is to make a card inspired by any era in time. I love this challenge idea and would really love to try and make a card for each era starting with this one as my 20s/30s era card. Hope I have enough time!!!

Animals only - no people allowed...

Seems like an eternity since I last put a card on my blog. It has just taken me so long to sort myself out after my holiday and the holiday tummy I brought back with me. Anyway today I have played with some gorgeous new pencils I received for my birthday. I think out of all the different colouring mediums I have these are my favourite - the colours are just so intense. This is probably why they are called 'Inktense'. They are manufactured by Derwent and if you haven't already got some rush out and buy some now. They are brilliant!!!
The frog stamp I have used is by Penny Black and was another birthday present. It seemed perfect for the challenge at http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ which is to create a card with only animals on. I also made this card for the challenge on http://www.daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ which involved using journalling and your own handwriting on a card. I wonder if you can guess how many times I wrote the words for this before thinking 'oh that will be okay - I just can't do it again'! The message is continued inside the card and reads ' Makes me hoppy!'