Summer Days...

This was another of my card samples for Joanna Sheen's new range of stamps 'Favourite Flowers', but I think it's also perfect for the challenge at Cute Card Thursday where the theme is Summer days. Poppies so remind me of summer hedgerows and bright red fields ablaze with this so strongly coloured, but delicate wild flower.

I've always thought it a great idea to combine a card and a small gift in the one envelope so for this card I decided to create my own seed packet using the gorgeous poppy stamp from the range.

To create my seed packet I measured the stamp and then using Serif Home Office I designed and printed the basic seed packet leaving a space in the middle which allowed me to stamp the poppy. I used Lyras to colour the image.

Using acetate allowed the back of the seed packet to be seen too so I typed and printed planting instructions on a piece of white card which was then attached to the back of the packet. There is a real packet of poppy seeds inside my decorated packet and this was the source of my planting details. I attached the packet of seeds to the card using ribbon which means that the recipient can easily remove the packet without tearing anything.

A couple of years ago I did some Christmas cards in the same way as this card, but they were for children and contained 'Snowman' seeds. They were very popular with my friend' s children and everyone was crossing their fingers for a fall of snow so that they could plant their snowman seeds. I've just checked my blog and you can see one of those cards here if you would like to.

The inside of the card was finished off with a sentiment and a small image of a watering can from the Wild Flowers collection.

New Challenge Blog...

Stop groaning everyone - this is different and very special!

This challenge blog is being run by Hannah the daughter of Lori Boyd, from the Pink Elephant Design Team, and as Hannah is only 14 years old her challenge blog is aimed at younger crafters.

Hannah says that Hannah Bug Colour Challenges will be ' A place for young girls and boys to show off their creations. A place to find inspiration and have a whole bunch of FUN!!!! '

Sounds good to me and mums can join in too so if you have younger members in your family this could be the ideal chance to do some crafting together.

Do check this out - Hannah has certainly got bags of talent (must take after her mum) and her first challenge card for the theme yellow, aqua and white is just stunning. She's on the look out for a design team too.

Pink Elephant Day...

It's time for a sketch challenge at the Pink Elephant - my favourite as Robin's sketches are just wonderful to follow. Our sponsor this week is The Little Paper Shop and the DT were lucky to be given a couple of digi stamps to play with. I chose Katie on a swing and Little Friends - so cute. If you haven't visited The Little Paper Shop you should they have some really cool stamps and digi images.

I'm disappointed with my girl on the swing birthday card as silly me printed the image smaller than I intended. Don't you just love the way you can print digi images in any size you want? My original plan was to adorn the swing ropes with paper flowers and put one in her hair, but alas the image was too small. Ah well not to worry this version has diamonds and the flowers can make an appearance another day.

My other card is an engagement one - I was thinking along the lines of 'kissing frogs to find a prince'. Maybe I was going too far outside the box I'm not sure. Anyway the computer generated sentiment says 'So glad you found your Prince' and inside the card I've put 'And your Prince found you. Congratulations on your engagement'.

I do hope you'll be able to join us at The Pink Elephant this week. We really have seen an abundance of fantastic talent recently - I know I've gained so much be visiting other peoples blogs and I'm sure the rest of the DT feel the same way. It really is wonderful to have so many people joining us.