Monday 30 June 2014

Softly Does It

I've been trying to practice DI water-colouring in an attempt to get the shading a bit softer rather than bold.  I find it really hard to do, because each time I sit back and look at my work, I think it needs a bit more shadow adding, and it slowly ends up dark like all my other attempts.

This time I think I've definitely filled the brief on the soft colouring, but now I'm not sure whether it looks a bit washed out and faded.

I chose Wild Rose Studio papers in shades to match the image, and they're quite softly shaded too, so it all gels together.





Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Sunday 29 June 2014

Pink Tags

I've got another quick trio of tags to share today, and I'm back to my favourite pink with a dash of white.

Each one is featuring a cute bear and some pretty embossing.






Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
  • Simon's Monday Challenge - Use this more (this die as it makes lovely gift tags which I always neglect to make - I love wrapping presents with paper and pretty ribbons, but then never have any tags to add)
  • Deep Ocean Challenge - Favourite Colour Combo - LOVE pink, pink, pink and white!!
  • Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Friday 27 June 2014

A Prickly Situation

Bluebell is out again, this time with her prickly friend. I've also used some Wild Rose Studio papers which set the colour scheme.  It's fairly safe to say that I'm in a purple mood, so if you don't like purples, you'd best look away now!



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
  • Magnolicalicious - Bugs
  • Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
  • Deep Ocean - Favourite colour combo (purple, lilac, white)
  • Bunny Zoe - Layers
  • Papertake Challenge - Sketch #53 (flipped vertically so the text is at the top, 'cos I didn't leave enough room at the bottom!!!)
 
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Wednesday 25 June 2014

Mail Sizer

I've been doing some recycling and made something quite useful out of an old ring binder.  I wanted to make a mail sizer to help determine when packages will be classified as large letters when I get to the post office.

Unfortunately the post office don't sell the sizers that they use.  I have seen some on eBay, but I thought I'd have a go at making one myself.  I cut one side off an old ring binder, and then cut it to a rectangle shape, but only cut through the board, being careful not to cut through to the vinyl covering, so that I could then wrap the vinyl  around the raw edge to make it neat.

I then carefully measured and cut two slots, one for standard letters, and one for large letters.  If the package passes through the slot, then I know it will be sized accordingly.  Because the card is from a ring binder, the board is really thick, and so it doesn't bend when I am holding it in one hand to push parcels through it with the other!

I've also printed out some handy information, with an area for the last posting dates before Christmas, and also the current prices for UK mail.  I'm guessing that this will need to be updated frequently though, as our prices seem to change fairly often, but I can create a new panel and either cover up the old one, or replace the whole panel and use a new image each year for variety!  Unfortunately I can't yet find the 2014 last posting dates, so I've left these blank so that I can add the dates in pencil, and then change them each year if necessary.

This project is to support the M for Mail challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge.



Here's a sneaky peek at the reverse of the board, where you can see how I wrapped the vinyl around the back to hide the cut edge.  I was going to do the same for the slots, but it turned out to be too fiddly, so I didn't bother.



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
  • Simon's Monday Challenge - Use this more (to stop me being shocked when I get to the post office and get told that it is gonna cost as much to post my creations as it did to make them!)
  • Fab 'n' Funky - Christmas, we're half way there
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Tuesday 24 June 2014

Oranges and Lemons

Now orange and yellow are not my colours at all.  But this card kind of just happened that way! And I admit that I actually quite like it.

It is a summery kind of image, and once I'd coloured the mouse and grass, I pulled out some papers to choose what I wanted to use before I coloured the flowers something that might not match.  This paper just seemed to match the mouse, and I knew that I had some gold organza ribbon that would match which I teamed with some thin orange ribbon to create a band around the insert panel.

The gold organza was actually from a reel left over from my wedding invitations, so it's probably some of my oldest crafting stash because making my wedding invitations was my very first introduction to card-making nearly 10 years ago!

The new challenge at Top Tip Tuesday is to use 2 or more ribbons, which is covered as I've used 2 different style ribbons, and also created a double bow using a third piece of ribbon.



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
  • Stampin' for the weekend - Anything Goes
  • Bunny Zoe - Layers
  • Penny Black & More - Favourite Stamp (I love this image 'cos it is so summery, which is my favourite season, and the little mouse is so cute and happy with his smiley face)
  • Simon's Monday Challenge - Use this more (it is a crime to have not already used this gorgeous organza ribbon)
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Monday 23 June 2014

Bluebell and Squirrel

I've used one of my favourite images from the most recent release of Bluebell the deer images from Wild Rose Studio today, and although I do love our native red squirrels, because I'd coloured the deer brown, I thought that I should have some variety in fur colours on the squirrel.  So he's grey!  (only 3 shades though, not 50).

I've teamed it with some of my favourite Magnolia papers, and I'm not yet tired of my bow maker, so yup, you've guessed it, another double bow!



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Sunday 22 June 2014

Big Heart

After yesterday's C&S, embellishment free, "masculine" creation (work with me here 'cos it was as masculine as I could muster), I've reverted back to the safety of a cute, pink, floral number today!

I've used a new Cottage Cutz die that I bought months ago.  I had great plans to use it when I bought it, but I'm not sure that I've used it yet, so I thought I'd give it an outing today.  It actually cuts a much bigger branch than this, but I've cut it into sections and used 2 pieces, one in each corner, with some of the flowers cut in the same papers as I've used for the backing and paper piecing.

It feels good to be back in the pink again!!!  ;0)



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Saturday 21 June 2014

Take 3

I'm not willing to share the first two versions of this card, but needless to say this was the third attempt at a 50th birthday card for my boss.

Very unlike me, I'd left making it to the last minute.

Ok ok, just like usual, I'd left it to the last minute.

So I was making this the night before I needed to give it to him.  After several failed attempts at 'no image / just dies' cards, I remembered he likes cricket, which meant I could use an image after all!  :0)

I'm just not good at masculine cards.

Why, oh why, can't men like pink and glitter and flowers?



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Friday 20 June 2014

(Criss) Cross my Heart

I've created a pink criss cross card today using some heart themed papers from Dovecraft which I thought matched the heart themed image perfectly.

There's also a tag inserted into the pocket which I've edged using a heart border punch.

So it's hearts all round.  Literally!



Here's a closer peek at the tag inserted into the pocket:



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday 19 June 2014

Hugs

After the fiasco of finding one of my favourite dies a couple of weeks ago (see here if you missed all the fun) I realised how much I like it.  Not only is it really pretty in its own right, but the cut outs can also be used to create flowers (especially the largest one).  So this fortnight's 'favourite die' challenge at As You Like It Challenge is the perfect opportunity to dig it out again.

I'm also using one of my new LOTV fairies, painted with DI reinkers, and some of my lovely new LOTV papers.  The papers were quite detailed so I left the design clean and simple.  I think this little fairy is my favourite from the new release.  I hope you like it.



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Tuesday 17 June 2014

Live Laugh Love

I wanted to enter the Sugar Bowl challenge as it's their last challenge.  I do love Sugar Nellie images, especially their Fairy Glen images so wanted to be play along with the final challenge.  This image is called Live Laugh Love and she's a real sweetie.  I've popped some sparkle on her wings, but it's not showing very well in the photo.  :0(



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Monday 16 June 2014

Lamp Light

I know it's the middle of June, but I'm a firm believer that you can never start your Christmas cards off too early, so I've got a frosty festive creation to share today.

I used the papers as inspiration by trying to keep the colours really soft.  I also used a lamp die to form part of the scene, and I fussy-cut the image to layer on the papers with foam pads.



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Sunday 15 June 2014

Painted Heart

I don't usually post this late on a Sunday, but I have spent some time creating this little hanger this weekend intending to enter the 'paint' challenge at Simon's Monday Challenge, and am just sneaking it in with not much time to spare!  I painted the chipboard heart with pale green paint and deckled it by dabbing it with the paint brush which created a bit of a textured finish and removed any brush strokes.  I then stamped mini flowers and leaves around the edge and a sentiment in the middle.  The ribbon is a sheer organza with white butterflies, to match the butterfly theme stamped on the heart.




Card Recipe:
  • Sentiment is LOTV Grungy Good Times Sentiments
  • Flowers are Cardio Majestix Mini Stamps
  • Purple Butterfly Ribbon
  • Versamark mini coloured ink pads
  • Heart Chipboard Shape
I've been inspired by:
  • Simon's Monday Challenge - Paint
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Friday 13 June 2014

Simply Sporty

With the World Cup kicking off this week, I've had another attempt at a masculine card.  This time it follows a topical footie theme and I've tried hard to stay away from floral papers, with striped papers seeming like a safer option.  And although I've used ribbon, I've knotted it rather than tied a bow.

Ok, I admit that I've sneaked a little trio of pearls in the corner, but I was just itching to put something there, and couldn't resist!



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Wednesday 11 June 2014

Little Gifts

I don't think I've used today's image before.  I found him in my stamp folder, and thought I'd get him inked up as he was looking a bit forgotten!  He's a real sweetie and was actually quite quick to colour, even though I water-coloured him (which takes me far longer than using Copics).

I have tried to keep the colours and layout simple so he may suit a male recipient (or at least a male who doesn't mind cute bunnies - hmmm, I may have missed the point there!)

Anyway, this project is to support the challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge where the theme is L for Little Gifts.  Hopefully a little gift box containing a bunny on a spring will suffice.  'Cos we can never have too many bunnies on a spring now can we.  :0)



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Tuesday 10 June 2014

Barry Star Tags

I've been making some more tags for wrapping presents  I thought that I'd make these ones a bit more spring / summery themed, but I'm not sure I've got any yellow wrapping paper to match them!

I've painted the images with DI reinkers and added some Stardust gel pen around the edges.

This project is to support the challenge at Top Tip Tuesday where the theme is Shaped Cards.



Tag Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Monday 9 June 2014

Strawberry and Coffee Bluebell

Not wishing to blow my own trumpet, but I quite like this card.  I adore the image, and have used it a couple of times lately, but I also really love this pink and brown colour combo.   It reminds me of chocolate and strawberries. Mmmmm yummy!

It probably also helps that I've used my favourite Wild Rose Studio Corner Flourish die which I like to use to make a frame around the top of the card.

Hope you like it too.


Also don't forget there is still a Spring sale on at The Stamp Basket at the moment.

Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Saturday 7 June 2014

Baby Giraffe

When I saw this cute baby giraffe image in Lee's Digi Shop I couldn't resist making a quick card.  He kind of led me towards a 'baby themed' card, but then the colours that I've used have matched the giraffe rather than suiting a baby theme in pink or blue.

D'oh!

But then I think he's going to be an image that gets used again fairly quickly as I think he's adorable, so the next time I'll stick to the plan.

Hope you like him too.



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
  • That's Crafty - Texture (embossing, raised panels, ribbon, pearls)
  • Sweet Stampin' - Baby
  • Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Masculine
  • Lawnscaping Challenge - Embossing (the spotty paper is embossed)
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Friday 6 June 2014

Gardening Group

I started off thinking this would be a masculine kind of card.

But then I picked the papers.

I'll say no more!



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday 5 June 2014

Spots and Stripes

Today's clean and simple card is a cutie featuring Barry the bear from Stampfairy.  The papers are from Lili of the Valley, and are really lovely soft blues.  The theme at Crafty Little Fairies this month is Spots and Stripes, and I'm not usually over keen on either spots or stripes, but I was pleasantly pleased with how this one turned out.  Probably because I like the colours and simple layout.



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Wednesday 4 June 2014

Embossed Daisies

There's a bit of a daisy theme going on today, both in the image and with the embossed flowers on the backing paper.  The cute girl is from Lee Holland Digis.  If you have 5 mins and want a cuteness overload, take a look at this guy's blog and his amazing artwork and paintings.



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Tuesday 3 June 2014

Tag Team

I was wrapping a pressie lately and realised that I didn't have a gift tag for it.

So I've been rectifying that problem by creating some sweet little tags made with the perfect digi from Stampfairy.

I cut and embossed the white base card, layered each tag onto coordinating coloured card, and matching ribbon.





Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:

Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Monday 2 June 2014

Peek-a-boo




I have been meaning to make a criss-cross card for a while, so decided today was the day!  I've kept the embellishments quite minimalistic as the papers were quite detailed and I didn't want to hide the criss-cross design either.

The gorgeous rich red burgundy satin bow seemed to match the dusky pinks in the image so I've kept the die cuts white so they didn't overshadow the image.



Also don't forget there is still a Spring sale on at The Stamp Basket at the moment, so grab some bargains as there have been some new items added to the discounts.


Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
  • Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
  • Creative Inspirations - Tag (the insert pulls out from the criss cross card)
Happy crafting
Annette
xx