Shades of Green Card ... and in my garden today

Hello Everyone

Happy Wednesday to you all. It's another bright but blustery day here ... The Boss isn't too happy with that - she hates windy weather. Because of my bad shoulder I'm still trying to stay off the keyboard for long stretches and that, sadly, means not participating in What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Much as I would love to I won't be able to type too many comments :(

Fortunately, I have a wee catalogue of cards already made up and not posted so will be sharing one at a time until back to normal. Today I have this Christmas card to share.

Another of my attempts to use up pretty patterned paper. This particular paper, Basic Grey Origins Seaweed Wrap, was leftover from another project. A double-sided paper, one side being flowery and not at all suitable for a Christmas card, the other being non-specific and perfect, I thought, for a very green card.

For the topper I've recycled a card received over Christmas 2013 ... I loved the photo of the mistletoe with the glittered word, Noel, stamped over it, so just trimmed the front down to a suitable size and matted it on to a snippet of white card.

It's not too visible in the photos but there's a bellyband made from smooth green card - more leftovers. The upper and lower edge were punched, using a Martha Stewart arch punch, and dark green organza ribbon (from stash) wrapped around before adhering it to the front of the card.

The embellishments consist of a bow decorated with a green gem brad ... it's from an old Docrafts set, perhaps 2 years old ... and a green card candi (Craftworks Vintage Berries mix) in the four corners.

 

Inside and back decorated with strips of the patterned paper matted on to the green cardstock.

I'm submitting the card to the following challenges:

Hazel's two Christmas Challenges - CHNC challenge 168: Going green ... a little or a lot - I've gone for a lot! ... and CHNC challenge extra for March where, as always, anything goes as long as it it Christmas.

Then there's Hazel's Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper March challenge - anything goes as long as the card front is covered with patterned paper.

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 116 - it's my second trip to the playground this week :)

Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge # 27 ... anything goes as long as it's square

Craft Your Passion  Challenge 205 ~ Go Green - this card is definitely green :)

That's the crafting bit done but I know many of you are interested in gardening and, more specifically, what is happening in our new garden. Now that spring has arrived every day is proving to be full of exciting discoveries ... all those dull borders and bare branches are bursting into bloom. So I thought I'd share the excitement with you by posting at least one photo in every post. Here's today's shot.

Ribes sanguineum ... common name Flowering Current. It has a rather pungent, and not altogether pleasant, smell but the pretty flower is compensation enough for that.

Right, I'm off to rest this beastly shoulder for an hour or so but will be back tomorrow, I hope.

Enjoy your day.

Happy crafting and happy gardening too :)