Butterflies on a Leafy Swirl ... and in my garden today

Hello Everyone

Happy Friday to you ... hope you are enjoying your day and looking forward to the weekend. Still nursing a sore shoulder so it's another card made some time ago that I have to share with you today.

And it's predictable perhaps but it's another card made with pretty paper :) This time I've covered the front of a square Kraft base with a sheet from Prima's Romantique 6x6 pack.

I then stamped, in VersaFine Olympia Green, the larger Leafy Swirl from a Clarity Stamp set and the Birthday Wishes from Stampin' Up's So Happy for You set.

Next it was embellished with three butterflies made by stamping Docrafts Urban Stamp Butterflies, again using the VersaFine ink pad, onto another sheet of paper from the Prima pack, cutting them out, inking the edges with Rangers Stormy Sky distress ink and applying Baby Blue Stickles to the bodies.

The faux bow was made with peach satin ribbon in two widths and blue eyelash trim topped of with a Prima flower ... dipped in glue and iridescent glitter. Blue pearls provided the finishing touch.

Much as I like Kraft card, I always think it's not the best colour to write on so I've covered the inside right with another trimmed down sheet of paper ... the trimming was used to decorated the left side. And the back is decorated with the last of the butterflies.

I will be submitting this card to the following challenges:

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper March challenge - if it wasn't for Hazel I wouldn't be making such an effort to use up the pretty patterned paper from my stash. If, like me, you have lots of pretty paper tucked away in your stash then this is the very challenge to persuade you to use some of it up.

Creative Knockouts #29-Things With Wings - that'll be the butterflies :) 

What a week it's been so far. The first day of spring, according to Google that is, and the weather took a turn for the worse here. Gales and blustery showers wreaked havoc and left the front garden litter strewn, again! The Boss hates wind and simply refuses to go out in it so she's out of sorts. And just to make matters worse the EM hasn't been at all well ... a really bad cold verging on man flu. But all that aside I still found something in the garden for Annie's Friday Smile.

Not absolutely sure about this shrub but I think it's one of the many Berberis - common name Barberry - possibly, because it's evergreen, Berberis stenophylla. This is a shot of the one in the front garden but there's another tucked away at the back in what is going to be the wooded area ... well, that's the long term plan :)

Now I'm off to check out what's making everyone smile today ... to the background of all the Sport's Relief Does Glee Club ... it doesn't get much better than that :)

Have a happy weekend everyone,