My amazing amaryllis

Do you remember last autumn that I bought myself and my daughter and amaryllis bulb? For many years I have admired these beauties in flower and only then realised that I had missed the opportunity to have one myself. I found a great bulb already potted that you simply "added water to" from M+S. After about 4 weeks this little shoot appeared

and over the following weeks the following occurred on my kitchen window side

until just before Christmas a stake was needed to support my giant stalk

and then the real magic started as the flower heads started to unfold

Below was Christmas day 

and a week later this happened on old year's night.....

 and the very next day on New Year's day this greeted me in the morning....

and eventually I had 4 magnificent trumpets of colour which stayed out for 2 weeks. I left the flowers to die back and as I went to pull them off I noticed that there were 2 more buds. So today I had these 2 bonus flowers to see, isn't nature amazing...and all this for the sum of £5. Good old M+S.

So today's card challenge is all about new beginnings. I made this card  for my SILs parents who have just moved into a new home.  It features a new House Mouse stamp for me which has never yet been inked.

I coloured my stamp using Promarkers and highlighted with Prismacolor pencils. I made an embossed background using a new embossing folder which I then added some Pumice stone DI to the edges.  I die cut the glasses and champagne bottle and used some glitter and mirror card for some extra bling as well as a couple of gems in the corners. The focal die cut is my fave floral oval by Spellbinders.

The New Home sentiment is by Lili of the Valley.

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

House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge New something
Lili of the Valley anything goes my sentiment stamp is from the For You set 7 circular sentiments set.
Gruffies and Guests anything goes
Pan Pastel UK anything goes
A little bit crafty celebrate
Heck of a challenge New
Die Cut Divas make it glitter
A Creative Romance Something New
Jelly Park New beginnings
Crafting for all season's all things bright and beautiful
Pile it On Celebrations/holidays
Divas by design Let's celebrate
Papertake Weekly New year new stash my stamp and embossing folder are new
Crafty sentiments anything goes

Let's hope that my gorgeous amaryllis is the start of countdown to the spring bulbs flowering in my garden. There are certainly little shoots out there and I cannot wait to see my first pop open. I am hoping my snowdrops may flower this year too.

My daughter and darling Daisy Jane went home today as their Daddy is due home from Singapore tomorrow after 8 days working on a ship out there. Although we have missed him, we had such fun again and I will share some more Daisy adventures soon.  Here is just one peep at my girlie....on her Dan Dan's (Granddad's lap). Oh we had a ball.

Enjoy the rest of the week,

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x