Harbinger of Spring - Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge

For once the weather forecasters were correct in their predictions on a major snow storm.  When I woke up this morning there was 30cm of snow on the ground.  Thank goodness for a neighbour with a snow blower and another neighbour with a shovel.  Between the 3 of us the driveway and steps were cleared of snow in just over an hour.
I'm getting to think more and more about spring, so today's card reflects that.
Usually one of the first birds to return to this part of the world in the spring is the red winged black bird.  They like the ditches were the cat tails grow and they're a welcome spot of colour in an otherwise pretty brown landscape.
This is the card for the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge, and also for Challenge 106 -
The basic Always Artichoke card is 5 X 10 scored at 5 to make a 5 X 5 card.
The image: On Whisper White Card stock  grass was stamped using Old Olive ink  and the stamp set "Inspired by Nature".  Using the small oval punch & Early Espresso card stock,I made 2 cat tails which were covered with flocking made by  scraping some card stock with scissors  .  The leaves were made by folding a strip of Always Artichoke in half and cutting a narrow leaf along the fold line. A small strip of Early Espresso became the stem.
Red Winged Black Birds: With the Two Step Bird Punch punching out two birds in Basic Black card stock . For the wings, I sponged some Daffodil Delight with Real Red above it on a piece of Whisper White card stock and then punched out the wings matching up the colours I desired for the wings. They were attached to the birds using stamping dimensionals.
The cloud in the sky was made using the scallop oval punch - the edges sponged with Baja Breeze.

The curve shape of the square lattice embossed Always Artichoke was drawn freehand.  The fowers were punched with So Saffron using the Boho Blossoms punch.  The edges were sponged with basic black ink and curved upward with a bone folder- the centre made with an Early Espresso marker.  They were applied along the curved line with glue dots.

 The sentiment is from "You're a Gem