Some cards through the year - part 2

Here are some more cards which were made over the year.  More birthday cards...

...some using dies as well as stamps.

Anniversary cards made using stencils...

...a thank you card using a stamp which I watercoloured.  I really like this Kandinsky-esque pattern.

A special birthday card for my best friend who lives in Canada but who visited this summer.  The little rhyme reads: "Cherish friendship in your breast, New is good but old is best; Make new friends but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold".  I included a Canada stamp, relevant numbers, a picture of a forget-me-not and a photo of her when she was little.  I really enjoy creating these collage backgrounds.

This was her pearl anniversary card - both of us were married in 1993 and I was at her wedding in Canada as a Matron of Honour.

More birthday cards...

...anniversary cards...

...and these are the most recent, for my brother-in-law

...and my nephew.

The next cards to make are for my sister, sister-in-law and then Chris, not forgetting that Christmas (whisper it!) is not all that far away!  I had better get making!

Some cards through the year - part 1

As you know, I enjoy making cards and I like to keep a record of what I have made.  So here are some of the cards from this year.  There are probably more, but I think two posts is enough(!).  The top one was for a friend's birthday - she likes pink.

The next one was for my brother-in-law.  I always find cards for men a little trickier.

I think this card was my piece de resistance this year.  It was for my colleague at work whose partner is an entomologist. My colleague has now become interested in insects, so I made this card for her.  There are pockets and 'slides' with various bugs and beetles on them.

On the back of the card were many bugs too...

Here you can see the 'slides'.

I also added a little money envelope inside.  The only problem now is thinking what to make her for next year!

There have been thank you cards.

Lots of birthday cards...

...some including collage.

Then there have been Mothering Sunday/Mother's Day cards...

...and Easter cards (I love this Tim Holtz/Sizzix rabbit die set)...

...and more Easter cards.

Finally for this post, another birthday card, following inspiration from Tracy Evans, who has been posting lots of helpful 'snippet' videos on Youtube here and I have a few of her stamps so can make my own interpretations.

Part 2 coming soon... 

Hydrangeas

The hydrangeas are looking good again and beginning to turn their autumnal shades.  Above is a dwarf macrophylla white which had these beautiful bright white flowers earlier in the summer. They are now turning more green.

Here is Bobo, another small plant but a paniculata variety. I find these easier when it comes to pruning.

Sundae Fraise starting to turn pink around the edges.

Pinky Winky turning pink.  This has the biggest flowers of the lot.

Macrophylla magical Revolution Pink, with shades of green on the flowers.

Magical Revolution Blue which hasn't done so well this year as it was too shaded out, I think. I have moved it in the hope that it will do better next year.  It is going more purple/lilac now and will probably change to pink another year.

Macrophylla Dark Angel looking pretty good.

Only two flowers from Sanguine Merville, (probably down to my not that brilliant pruning!) but they are rather lovely.

Finally another Magical Revolution Pink at the front door and looking probably the best of them all!

Beeing busy in the garden

I just happened to have my camera to hand when I spotted this very busy bee on the japanese anemone Bressingham Glow.

This isn't unusual as the bees have been loving this plant.  However, I also managed to capture a bee in flight in this photo which I was very excited about - actions shots don't always work for me!

We are enjoying some late summer sun and temperatures to match this week.  I have quite enjoyed the cooler temperatures during July and August but I know that a lot of people will be pleased to see the late summer returning.  My three coloured hibiscus is flowering away although you can only see the pink and cream flowers in this photo.  You'll have to take my word for it, there were also blue/purple flowers!

Aster Mrs S T Wright.  Yes, I know that it should be Symphyotrichum novae angliae Mrs S T Wright, but that name doesn't trip off the tongue, does it?  However, the plant itself is a good reliable flowerer and has mildew resistance.  Apparently it was developed pre 1907.

Perennial sunflower - Helianthus Lemon Queen.  It can be invasive but I love it anyway.  It hasn't been to bad in my garden, probably because it doesn't actually have that much space!

Finally for now, a little delicate japanese anemone which I thought I had lost.  Anemone hupehensis Pretty Lady Maria. 

It is indeed very pretty.