Summer Garden

I've made a card! After an extended break from cardmaking, and with all my stash put away, a neighbour came and looked through my 'for sale' basket and selected a couple of cards to buy.  But, she wanted something pretty with flowers to send for a Congratulations on your new job card.  I explained that I couldn't do exactly that, but could make something simple with Congratulations.  I'm still not in the right head space for colouring images, and time to do any craft is a few minutes here and there between looking after Mum, Izzy and the home.  So here is my card, and the lady liked it so that's a bonus!

The background paper is a sheet from the Studio Light paper pad #31, the picture is from the Marianne Design Mattie's Beautiful Swans cutting sheet, and I've decorated with various MD die cut bits and pieces and a lace bow.  The flowers, leaves and butterflies are all from MD strip dies, I use them a lot and keep little jars for the pieces I haven't used, ready for next time.  The frame for my picture is the larger square from LRO234 - still playing with my new X-cut machine and had to tighten the rollers to get any embossing, plus it doesn't come with an embossing mat so I had to use my old one from the Cuttlebug hence not an even surface over all.  It's a learning curve with this machine, great for the big stuff, even better if I can buy an embossing mat.  But .. .. .. a bit OTT if I'm just wanting to cut a little leaf or single swirl embellishment.  I'm thinking I might need one of those mini machines - any recommendations?

And I even used another piece of the paper and decorated the inside, adding the die cut Congrats on a pretty plain white die cut frame and a few more mini butterflies from the jar.

So, having been AWOL for so long I'm not up to speed with what challenges are running.  I have seen that the Crafty Catz challenge is for female only cards, and I think my card fits that theme.

Well, my stash is still out on the dining table so who knows, I might be inspired to make another card before it starts to gather dust!  Thank you for stopping by to take a look, and hope you will come back when I have something else to share - bye for now!