A few things to update. First, some ATCs. The top one is of an Altered Drinks Label. I used an orange juice label from a bottle and wrapped it round the ATC. Then I made some miniature oranges using a circle punch on orange card, with green gelly pen for the stalk area. These were applied using foam pads, then I glazed them to give a sheen. Finally, added a 3D blue butterfly - no idea if this is correct biologically (do butterflies flit in orange groves, or are they sprayed out of existence?) but the card looks nice.

The second image is of some cards for a Birds swap. This one was also to raise funds for the RSPCA by saving postage stamps - I had a freezer bag of them to go with the cards. It took a surprisingly long time to accumulate a modest bagful, as apart from Christmas and my ATC swaps, we don't tend to get very much personal mail - most of it is business post which is franked. Two cards are for the swap and one is a RAK for the lady organising. The bluebirds card was a plain white one which I inked using an ink pad (denim blue). Using a darker blue inkpad, I stamped random blue flowers over the base card. Then I stamped the blue image of the birds onto a piece of paler blue card and stuck it to the base, using blue floral self adhesive ribbon on the borders. The birds were coloured using an assortment of gel pens, silver on the body, and shades of blue for the wings and tails. Finally, an adhesive heart gem was set between the birds. For the pink birds, I covered a plain ATC in some Papermania pink spotted paper, and edged the card using an ink pad. On a strip of pink card, I used a chalk ink pad in shades of pink to give random swirly effects, before stamping on the birds with a damson coloured shade. This was adhered to the base card, and a piece of cream felt ribbon attached to the bottom border. The birds were coloured using my gel pens, and finally a heart and a butterfly gemstone were added to the card.

The third set shown is for a Hearts and Flowers swap - each card had to have both on it. For the pink one, I used a pink base card, and stamped an assortment of flourishes on to it. Then I added some die cut heart shapes with 3D foam pads and then carefully added lots of little mulberry paper flowers. These were glazed with a Stardust Stickles glitter glue and I added tiny pink gemstones to the centres of the flowers. This looked lovely when it was finished. Similarly for the lilac one, I started with a plain lilac card, and added purple flourishes with an ink pad, this time in portrait format. Two die cut heart shapes were added with foam pads, then I added more mulberry flowers, which this time I glazed with a lilac glitter glue. Finally added some butterfly gems to the card and it was complete. Both of these were very pleasing when finished.

Finally, a birthday card, although I have made two of the design. I have a faithful stamp which I use so often of a pretty bunch of flowers, then after the image is coloured you use a pricking tool on the dots and stitch it. In this case I used a plain white card and a charcoal ink, and a palette of Twinkling H2Os in purple, green, and irridescent oyster shades. The stitching was done ina variegated grey thread, and looked lovely when complete. The image was then trimmed and mounted onto a silver pearlescent card, and a pretty white patterned ribbon tied round the side. Finally I added a silver greeting on the base, and a couple of tiny butterflies to the top of the card. The recipient should have received it today for her birthday. Am now waiting to hear if she likes it!