March winds, April showers, brings forth May flowers

Despite waking up to cloudy skies this morning we have had a marvelous start to May and the flowers in my garden really have come forth! Yesterday afternoon after work it reached 24c in the shade of my sheltered garden and I enjoyed several hours working out there with Billy. The flowers have come on so much this week.

The parrot tulips I planted in my pots last autumn are quite spectacular with their very vibrant colours.

My viburnum is now is full flower and the scent wafts down my garden path...mmmm

Even my frilled pansies and little violas survived the harsh winter and are smiling out from their pots.

I have some jobs to do in the garden and one is to plant out my runner beans which my Dad starts from seed.

and of course Billy is just loving this sunny weather and spends all his time with me when I am working out there.

Although yesterday it got too hot for him and he found some shade to keep an eye on me.
My card today is in celebration of May flowers and cats keeping cool in sunny gardens!

I love this Penny Black stamp, it is one of the first large stamps I ever bought....many years ago!
I coloured my image with Promarkers and highlighted with Prismacolor pencils.
The backing paper are old Papermania (I think).
I have used a MS lace edge punch.
The focal dies are Spellbinders Labels 17 and you will spot my fave memory box bow die there too.
There is some bling added with sparkly gem accents and a bright ribbon to finish it off.

I  would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Crafty Catz Inspired by a song #180 my song is Cool for Cats by Squeeze  who I am delighted seem to be releasing new work. I just loved their 1980s albums and still play them.
Allsorts  Add some sparkle #205
Penny Black Saturday monthly challenge anything goes
My Mum's craft shop spots and stripes #5 I have used spotty buttons and striped packing paper
Emerald Faeries Ribbon #43
Visible Image Brighten your day
I love Promarkers Put a button on it #166
Cutie Pie lots of layers #43
ABC M for make it sparkle
Creative Inspirations Birthdays #212

I hope those of you in the UK enjoy a fantastic bank holiday weekend whether you are out and about, in the garden or creating. I hope to get a bit of everything in but for today I am helping my Hb paint the kitchen.

One little bit of exciting news to share with you is that I have been invited by Kerry of Ladybug Crafts Ink to be one of their Guest Designers again on Tuesday. She is expecting her first grandchild and this is in celebration of his/her imminent arrival

 To give you all a little inside info my card features more of my quilted paper and I was brave enough to add some "stitching" to it! Do come back at 9am on Tuesday to see what I made.

Back to the kitchen for me........;0)

Bye for now,

Jane x