First signs of Spring

It is definitely Spring like here today, in fact it is almost like Summer with the lovely warm sun for a change.
The challenge is on at Quirky Crafts, and you need to make a double Z fold card or a 3d project with hidden element of Spring which was set by Diane who regularly challenges us to do some paper engineering! A link to instructions on how to make this card is on the Quirky Crafts Challenge blog.

I made a double z fold card a long time ago and so I had to use the instructions, even then it took me several attempts to work out the best way of making this, and ending up with straight edges that met in the middle! I used my Fiskars rotary trimmer with the scoring blade, and I eventually worked out it was best to have the bulk of the card on the trimmer bed, so that it didn't skew. The sponsor this time is The Stamping Boutique, and you can win 5 lovely digi images from them. I used digi images from The Stamping Boutique called  Spring, and Cynthia Fairy and the Carrot Thief. The papers are by The English Paper Company, and all images are coloured with Trias and Promarkers. I die cut Spring with a Nestabilities labels die and added a Lakeland flower - Lakeland don't do them now. I added some wide organza ribbon in pale green, I think it was from Ribbon Oasis. I may add Happy Birthday or Happy Mother's day to the card at a later date when I decide what it is for.

Baby blues

Well there is some blue in one of these!

These are the results of my crochet effort so far. The pattern is Sirdar 3383 and it is for 4 ply yarn.

Luv story

That is the challenge over at Quirky Crafts this time, you must use ribbon and a charm too.
Our Sponsor is Robyns Fetish, and I used I have a Crush on You, sentiment and image. I think the male cat is kinda tough looking, not too cute.

This is version 1, I coloured the two kitties with Promarkers and cut round the image which has a background  made using a Spellbinders Nestabilities heart cut from some free papers that came with Crafts Beautiful Magazine called Spring Collection, (and the good thing is they are "proper" quality papers not shiny magazine paper) matted on a dusky rose pink scalloped heart. I cut a panel of hammered cream card and two borders with Spellbinders Contemporary Hearts in the same dusky rose pink. I added some very fine Organza ribbon which is pinky blue, it was an odd length and I think it was from Crafty Ribbons. I added two love charms, two fishes and a fish bones charm. (Love and best fishes perhaps?)

Version 2 was when I remembered I was going to use the punched out hearts from the borders which I had run through the Xyron 150 and so they were ready stickied and I just forgot. Then the computer wouldn't recognise the memory card so I couldn't upload any more!

So better with I think, what do you think.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

ABC I is for In Pairs, I used two love charms, ther eare two cats too, and two borders, 5x2 punched out hearts, 2 fish charms. Ends 14th Feb

Cute Card Thursday Pink Valentines Cards. Ends Wed 15th Feb

I love Promarkers Luv is in the Air ends 14th Feb

Moving Along With the Times Cute Critters ends Wed 15th Feb

Thank you cards

I needed a thank you card a week or so ago, and I decided to keep it simple and make the word Thanks the feature of the card. I used Sizzix Shadow Box alphabet to cut my letters, and I tried different variations of the theme.

The top two are Papermania papers, on a contrasting card shadow, the top one has stamped butterflies,  and the letters are staggered.

The second one has the letters in a line but the H, N and S are "popped" out with foam squares, and I added a bloom punched with a Nellie Snellen punch and emboss set to match the letters.

On the final one I used some freebie Dovecraft Kate Knight designed papers on a dark teal shadow to emphasise the darkest colour in the papers and I punched and embossed butterflies with a Nellie Snellen punch and emboss set. Again the letters are staggered. The card blanks are Anita's tall blanks.

I think this is a good idea for using up scraps of pretty paper too, and could be used for different words, how about the word Happy with birthday as a peel off, or stamped below.

Which arrangement do you like the best?