After the storm

After the dreadful storm we endured here in the UK on Friday night we have been given some optimism that that may have been the worst of the weather. I wrote this post over a month ago when we hoped the torrential rain was over,  little did we realise that the worst was yet to come. A lot of poor souls still have flooded properties and I just count my lucky stars that we have stayed dry so far. On Saturday afternoon the sun came out and there was a little promise of hopefully sunny days ahead and spring. Despite the rain we have had a mild winter and my bulbs outside are well ahead. This time last year I had nothing in bloom but this year I have snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils swaying in the breeze. On a walk around our local park I snapped this pretty patch.

the ponds looked gorgeous in the late winter sunshine

There is still so much water around and the river is flowing so quickly

When I got home I spied some more crocuses and snowdrops in my front garden

and I also noticed the water drops still hanging from the ivy leaves

and on the leaves of my violas which have braved the winter in a hanging basket.

All this natural beauty inspired me to sit down on Sunday and make a card...incorporating the lilac and blue colours, the joy of mother nature,the raindrops and of course a little bit of magic ;0)

I chose 3 Distress Inks and blended the colours onto some card. I made another stencil this time using my lovely Joanna Sheen Ivy die and stamped through this with more  Distress Ink. I created this ivy border on both side of the card.

I then got busy with my tiny flowers stamp and made lots of little flowers by repeat stamping. I stamped a floral "hedgerow" around my card and  I decided I needed to have a fairy on this card. I also wanted to incorporate the rain drops I had seen on my viola. So here is my little creation....

Here are a few close ups

The fairy stamp is made my Lavinia and the water drops stamp by Ryn.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

Winter Wonderland fairies
Artistic stamper use distress
Craft stamper make and take repeat stamping
Stamping sensations wings real or fantasy
ABC challenge F is for flowers, I have multiple flowers in my stamping border
As you like it Inspired by an object my object is the viola flower in the photo above. The reason why it is my favourite object is that I adore flowers and even with rain drops on I think they still look so beautiful. The viola despite being tiny is such a survivor!
Stampin for the weekend flower power
Pan Pastel UK anything goes
Fashionable Stamping build it up
Deep Ocean love is all around

Have a great week everyone, I have also been finishing off my long awaited giveaway projects, stay tuned.....

Let's hope the rain dies down now after that incredible storm. The daylight is certainly lengthening every day, which is a sure sign that the first day of spring is now only 31 days away......I for one can't wait.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x