Summer Garden SlumberCompleted by Pamela Horton The whispering Platypus

As we are about to experience our next season, and being Summer, this is a perfect card for a, Birthday, Get well, Hello, Thinking of you, and even Sympathy, in the Southern Hemisphere. A beautiful design by Karen Wyeth, of which I have made extended use.

I have made this card as a Thinking of you for my 100 year old Aunt and Uncle, who are in care. They love my cards, and have them displayed around their room.

I began by making the card and backing sheets, and left the decoupage until last.

I printed the sheet supplied twice, once onto good quality copy paper, and then once, onto 200gsm white card.

I used double sided tape for each of the next following steps.

I used the main art work copy from the printed copy paper, to mount onto scrap card, cut at the same size, 10.5cm square, as the main topper section. I used a 9cm, tiny doily, to cut in half, and mounted both pieces onto the back of this main topper. I used the ribbon to attach to the back as well, using the centre point of the doily, as the guide. I then mounted this onto a deep purple backing sheet, 11.5 cm square, and again onto a purple, multi-coloured, 12.5cm square, backing sheet, and then onto a pale fawn backing sheet, 13.5cm square. I then attached these completed backing sheets and topper, onto the main sky blue, card front, 14cm square. I then took the ribbon over the top and under the bottom edges to attach with the tape on the inside of the blue card

I then used, the white 200gsm card copy, to cut out the very centre of the art work, complete with the roses and butterflies intact. I discarded the rest of this section. I used padded tape to mount this onto the front of the card. I cut out one purple and one burgundy butterfly, the 2 roses, and the sentiment, and mounted them with padded tape. I couldn't leave the cat sleeping alone so I made another paper copy and added the sleepy moggy. I used the same ribbon to make a bow and used power tape to attach it to the left hand side. I used a silver glitter glue pen to make some shiny dots, on the edges that are showing, of the backing sheets.

For the insert, I used a paper copy of the multi-coloured backing sheet, added the ribbon and another half of the same 9 cm doily, a sentiment, and the 2 butterflies, with a winding silver trail. I slip tied a single knot to complete the look.

I used the small 4.5cm square extra image to make a gift card, using again the same multi-coloured backing sheet, to keep within the same colour scheme. A big value for one cost.

It was so easy to put together, everything perfect, and fitting so well. A beautiful result, I am thrilled to bits. Thank You Karen.

Pamela Horton