Everything is inspired by Nature

Morning all, thankfully much of this post was scheduled so just added a few more words. We have new challenges starting today at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where themes are very seasonal, Spring and Inspired by Nature. Prizes on offer are Lavinia stamps, a Gina K gift voucher and A&C stamp set.

Above and below using Lavinia's new Meadowbrook Tales collection which I've been lucky to work with, the bundle sold out very quickly but stamps still available individually. A triptych gatefold card using a 'serving dish template', inky background applied with acetate, my preferred technique, a few older worker stamps to build up the scene and colouring using Zig pens. Adding to the Spring/Easter themes at Fab and Funky and Sweet Stampin' and Crafty Animals.

For this one a Gelli Plate background found ready prepared, Tree stamped into the oval, Lavinia Butterflies (not in the collection), Shrooms and Hares coloured with pencils and grounded with Pastels. Entering at Daisy Chain No DP's theme and Beautiful Butterflies at Lets Create and Craft.

Luckily this for SS was made weeks ago, and details already added to the post. A 3D wildlife scene using a whole host of Lavina stamps, Badger 1 and 2, Woodland Hare, Garden Poppies, Wild Summer Flower, Leaf Spray along with a good number of worker stamps. I took an A4 sheet of Multifarious, scored vertically in two places, cut diagonally about a third of the way down, stamped the animals and shrooms on the smaller piece, cut around the tops and built up the foliage around them. After creating a sky stamped the flowers and grasses and raised the smaller section with foam tape. Adding this one at The Card Concept and Cards 4 Galz Spring Flowers, the Oriental Poppies are budding up so won't be long, White Out at Shopping Our Stash and Tic Tac Toe using Spring, Colouring Technique (direct to stamp) and Fun Fold.

One for the Snippets Playground, dies from Amazon, Lisa Horton quilted EF, Lavinia word stickers and Liquid pearls. Snippets below and very frugally for me, I cut the flowers from the middle of the larger mat before shading the edges with DI's. Alphabet Challenge's theme is Y for Yellow and Crafty Calendar Dies and Punches.

A few more photos of what's springing into life in the gardens.

Spiraea Arguta Bridal Wreath, now quite a substantial shrub.

Spiraea cantoniensis

Anemone coronaria 'Harmony Orchid (just realised my nails match!)

Clematis armandii.

You have been so kind with your words of support regarding the surgery mentioned in my past last weekend so thought I best give an update. I saw my Neurologist in Cambridge a few days ago and managed to scheduled an appointment with my Pain Consultant on Friday. Once I have the thoughts of them both I will make a final decision on the surgery rather than launching headlong into it later this month as the Orthopaedic consultant would like.