The Most Depressing Day of the Year?

Another Monday morning - they say that today is the most depressing day of the year. However, I'm glad to say that I'm not feeling miserable (even though it's a bit of a grey day) and I hope you're not either!  Ooooh just as I say it's a bit grey the sun comes out.... well, it makes the effort, anyway!

I'm on my way to the kitchen to make a coffee, and then I need to do some craft stuff (trying not to think about the H*work that also needs doing) but I thought I'd pop on here first and add the other cards I've made using the latest set of  Crafty Templates.

The whole set has a "Love and Hugs" feel about it and all the templates are easy to adapt to use on lots of different cards and projects. Although she just sends out "bare-bones" templates to the DT, in the project file that customers receive with the actual templates Leo always gives ideas for how to make specific cards.  Really, though, they are just starting points and it's down to you how you use them on your own projects.

I thought the little love birds with the banner would work really well as a gatefold, opening to reveal the banner inside

I made a second par of birds for the inside of the card.  Each bird has 2 sets of wings, with the upper wing not fully attached so that you can lift the tips up and curl them a little for some extra dimension

All the white space freaked me out though and I'm really not convinced I got this one right.  Maybe a coloured or patterned background would have been better.  Even though I like the basic idea, I just feel there's something not quite right with the finished object.  You know how it is ;)

The next card is the Friendship Tree.  I love Leo's gorgeous curly trees - I converted this one to cut on the Robo, but I know that Leo always hand-cuts hers - just to prove that you shouldn't be put off because they look fiddly. Glue the template to the wrong side of your paper and it's much easier (hint hint!)

Anyway, the tree is so lovely I decided it deserved a little bird to sit in it's branches - so used the bird from last month's template set to make one, and added the message hanging from his beak with some skinny ric-rac braid.

Most of the card and paper used on these cards is from the Crafty Goodies Kit - which is available, along with the Template Set from HERE.
The flowers, braid and a few other bits and bobs were from my stash.

Just before I go and get that coffee, can I remind anyone who's reading this about the sketch challenge I've currently got running on Bubbly Scrumptious, click HERE to find out more and also to see the prize that Caroline is offering to those who enter.  There are about 5 or 6 entrants so far and I'd love it if more people would join in and let us all see what you can make.

Right, I need that coffee now, so I'll shut up now.  Back later to have a wander around and see what everyone else is up to on their blogs

Have a lovely day