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.