Swan pairing

Since early autumn there has been a lone swan on our ponds. I have shared some photos of him on my blog ( I just assumed he was a he!) and often wondered why he was alone as swans tend to pair for life.

 He seemed to be quite content with his duck and geese friends.

However a few weeks ago I spotted that  a lone cygnet had arrived

to join him 

and unbelievably last week....2 more cygnets arrived...

and yes with them his sweetheart arrived too! It's delightful to see this family of 5 reunited.

I wonder where his dear heart and the other 2 cygnets had been all this time? It's a shame they can't talk as I would love to find out. The swan family now seem quite happy spending the autumn days on the ponds.

My card today my #7 card for the Funkie Junkie challenge and a few other great challenges which are running at the moment. I decided to have lots of white in my card just like the beautiful swans on the pond.

 If you would like to play along with the FJ Christmas challenge please check out Linda's post here which gives all the details of the challenge requirements. The challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique and you could even win one of the prize vouchers if you complete all 12 weeks.

For week 7 I was inspired by Linda's blue background, the deer and the gorgeous white and silver snowflake. For my card I wanted more white in my background rather than a solid blue so I used some blue Infusions.

and made this lovely inky background

I die cut and layered up a large Snowflake using MB and Tim H snowflake dies. I stamped and cut out my Merry Christmas sentiment and added some bling with some gems. Everything was matted with silver.

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

The Funkie Junkie 12 tags of Christmas #7
Sparkles 2/3 Christmas is coming
Let's craft and create 2/3 winter
ABC T for 3 I used 3 different dies to make up my snowflake stack and 3 different colour gems to add to the sides.
Christmas at sweet stampin 1/3 anything goes
Simon says stamp Wednesday Christmas critters
We love to create 2/2  anything mixed media #23
Cute card Thursday Christmas/holidays
Allsorts feature a creature
Emerald Creek Dares Heartfelt freedom and festivites, anything goes

This card (and many others) will be heading down to sell at Dotty's Christmas market on Friday 2 December....just over 2 weeks away now. The flyer below is also in my side bar. Please feel free to share this and tell your friends and family who may live nearby. Please spread the word!

The address is 108 High Street, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3AE

I will be there from 11am selling my cards and also some of my jewellery, including my glass lamp work bag charms. If you are nearby please pop in and say hi, it would be so lovely to see you there.

Today I am having a break from my card making and I am off to do some Christmas shopping with my best buddy Karen...yes I am making that list...and checking it twice ;0)

Thanks for stopping by today and for the kind comments you take the time to leave me. They are very appreciated.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x