Birthday Card for a Gardener.

Good evening all,

I've been enjoying all the photos of snowy winter scenes many of you have published today - most of the country has become a winter wonderland! I know, not for everybody - but as I don't need to go out in it I feel free to enjoy it vicariously and from afar : )

Here's a birthday card made for a friend who just loves his garden and the wildlife he attracts to it.

The image is a composite of several stamps. I used the masking technique to put together the scene of Henry Hedgehog and youngster (free with issue 58 of Papercraft Essentials) playing among the poppies (from the  Papermania Poppy Fields stamp stamp set). All coloured with Promarkers.

The image is matted on to white card which has been distressed with Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters and that is matted on to copper card. The background paper is some leftover from a previous card and one I've had so long I've forgotten where I got it - I think it could be Two Peas In A Pod. The leaves were punched using an Xcut Botanical Embossing Punch and the ladybird is a button (I removed the shank to make it sit better).

Other embellishments are natural raffia, punch lace trim (using my Martha Stewart punch), Magnolia banner stamped, gold embossed and matted, again on copper card.

The sentiment inside is taken from my trusty Judith Wibberley book, 'Words for Every Occasion' and printed out using MS Word on to white card then cut with a large circle punch. I don't know how I ever managed without this great wee book now. The back has my trademark finish which you may all be familiar with now so I won't show it.

Still working my way through the birthday cards required for this month and I'm on to the letter P in the Alphabet series so better crack on.

Bye for now
Elizabeth