Rudolph with Baubles

I've made a simple card using the Stamping Bella Rudolph with a Present on Top and its matching die.  Rather than using patterned papers, I've embossed some smooth bright white card using my Holly Embossing Folder and added some flowers and satin ribbon for decoration.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Antlers: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Rudolph with a Present on Top Stamp
• Rudolph with a Present on Top Cutting Die
• Whimsy Stamps Slimline Holly Embossing Folder

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card
• Red Plain Card

Other:

• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Tulip Flowers
• 5mm flat backed pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pop up a Penguin

I've made a pop up card with fold-down flaps for these three cute penguins to sit on. I've watercoloured the penguins and fussy cut them out. The mountains are cut from plain white card with little snow caps and die cut snowflakes decorating them.  I've also managed to sneak in my favourite Christmas text die, all decorated with Nitwitw papers.

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Penguins: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Salvaged Patina, Mermaid Lagoon, Prize Ribbon
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Penguins Bearing Gifts
• Honey Bee Christmas die

Papermill Direct:

• Ocean Plain Blue Card 240gms
• White Glitter Card 220gsm

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Whimsy Ornament Border die
• Memory Box Twilight Snowflakes
• Sandi Idleman Pop Up Card in a Box Silhouette cutting file

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Wild Gift Tags

I've been playing with my Silhouette machine and have cut these layered aminals which I've used to decorate some gift tags.  I've embossed some brown and kraft card for the tags themselves and used different colours for the animals. Each animal is made from layers of card which reveal the character as they build up. 

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Brown Cumbria Plain Card 270gsm
• Buff Smooth Card 260gsm
• Terra Rossa Materica Card 250gsm
• Apple Green Plain Card 240gsm
• Super Smooth White Plain Card 250gsm

Other:

• Cute Giraffe Silhouette File by Creative Cuttable Designs
• Cute Jungle Tiger Silhouette File by Creative Cuttable Designs
• Spots and Linen effect embossing folders
• Spotty ribbon
• Whiff of Joy grass die
• Stitched cloud dies
• Gummiapan large old tag die
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Silhouette Critters

This is the second of my quick and simple Christmas cards using my Julian Charlton silhouette stamps. 

I have stamped the characters onto kraft card and added some white 'snow'.  The sentiments are doubled layered in glitter card and matted onto the same kraft card.

Card Recipe:

From Simon Says Stamp

• Julian Charlton Silhouette Stamp - Squirrel
  

From Papermill Direct

• Kraft Materica Card 250gsm
• Plain Green Card 240gsm
• Green Glitter Card 220gsm

Other

• Honey Bee Cuts Christmas Text Die

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Polar Bear

I have fallen in love with this adorable bear from Amanda Jayne Designs this week, and I've popped him on a simple card with an embossed base layer and stamped sentiment.

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Bear: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Blues: Prize Ribbon

Card Recipe:

• Polar Bear by Amanda Jayne Designs on Etsy
• Whimsy Stamps Slimline Holly Embossing Folder
• LOTV Polymer Sentiment Stamp Set
• 6mm Light Blue Satin Ribbon

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White card
• Ocean Blue Plain Card

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Kitty Cuddles

After our Wild Animal theme last week, this week at As You Like It Challenge we want to know what you're favourite domestic animal is, so it's no surprise that mine is the cute and cuddly kitty cat!  We are slaves to two of our own feline furballs, Jenson and Pickle who are, of course, spoilt rotten (and we wouldn't have it any other way!).  One furry lap snuggle and every ounce of the day's naughtiness is instantly forgiven (and there's usually a lot of naughtiness requiring forgiveness).

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Prize Ribbon
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Milo and Lucy Cats wrapped in scarf by Purple Onion Designs
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Merry Christmas Circle Frame die

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tiny Christmas

My current favourite embossing folder is a slimline holly folder and it's not big enough for a full 6" x 6" cardbase, so I've embossed the top two-thirds and left the bottom third for the stamped sentiment.

I've watercoloured a Santa stamp from the Tiny Christmas set and used the matching die to cut him out and raise him on foam pads to lift him above my embossed layer.  I've used some satin ribbon to cover up the edge of the embossed section.

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
• Sack: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Greys: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Tiny Christmas from CC Designs
• Tiny Christmas Matching dies from CC Designs
• Whimsy Stamps Slimline Holly Embossing Folder

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White card
• Ruby Red Card

Other:

• 10mm Christmas Satin Ribbon
• Clearly Besotted Scrumptious Script Sentiment stamp set (retired)

I've been inspired by:

• CC Designs August Facebook Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Reindeer Family

I'm sharing the third of my trio of slimline reindeer cards using my new favourite Whimsy Holly embossing folder and two little watercoloured Stamping Bella reindeer.

The 3 layered cardbase has been cut using my Silhouette machine and then embossed after it was cut.  I've added a die cut sentiment in the same coloured card.

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Antlers/Hooves: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Reindeer Family Stamps
• Stamping Bella Reindeer Family Cut It Out Dies
• Honey Bee Cuts Christmas
• Whimsy Stamps Holly Slimline Embossing Folder

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card
• Ruby Red Plain Card

Other:

• Rectangle Scalloped by Loni Harris Silhouette Cut File
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Polar bear addict

I think half of my last dozen or so cards have been polar bears, so continuing along the theme, guess what character is on today's card! 

Yup, another polar bear! 

This one is a new image from Amanda Jayne Designs and he's totally adorable. I've created a very simple cardbase using my new favourite Whimsy holly embossing folder and current favourite Honey Bee Christmas text layered die. 

The red snowflake trim is ribbon.

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Polar Bear: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo. Tattered Rose
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Polar Bear Digi Stamp by Amanda Jayne Designs
• Whimsy stamps Slimline Holly Embossing Folder
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• Red Glitter Card 220gsm from Papermill Direct
• White Plain Card from Papermill Direct
• Snowflake Organza Ribbon from Fantastic Ribbon
  

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Emboss it

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Polar

I've used one of the older LOTV Polar Bear digi stamps for a change today. This one's adorable expression makes me want to give him a cuddle!

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Polar Bear: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye

Card Recipe:

• Polar Bear from Lili of the Valley
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline
• Navy Blue Card from Papermill Direct
• Marine Blue Card from Papermill Direct
• Tattered Lace Garden of Joy Ornate Square die
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Polar Star

Another cute polar bear from Lili of the Valley's latest polymer stamp release. They sold out in minutes when the girls were on Create and Craft on the release day, but there are going to be restocks on their website very soon.  I've watercoloured my image and used some of my favourite Nitwit papers in purple shades for a simple design.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Polar Bear: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Star: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade

Card Recipe:

• Polar Bear Polymer stamp from Lili of the Valley
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Dark Violet Plain Card from Papermill Direct
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Silhouette Penguins

I bought some Julian Charlton silhouette stamps from Purple Onion Designs last year and this is the first time that I've used them. I have opted for a kraft base, stamped the silhouette critters in black and added some white 'snow'.  The sentiment is doubled layered in red glitter card and matted onto kraft card for a quick and simple design.

Card Recipe:

From Purple Onion Designs

• Julian Charlton Silhouette Stamp - Penguin

From Papermill Direct

• Kraft Materica Card 250gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Red Glitter Card 220gsm

Other

• Honey Bee Cuts Christmas Text Die

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You're Roar-some

At As You Like It Challenge this week we're asking if you prefer African or Australian wild animals, and it was a tough one as I am really fond of koalas and kangaroos, but for me it has to be the Big Cats.  Technically tigers have long been my favourite wild animals, but since they're mainly native to Asia I've opted for Leo, the King of the Jungle to represent my Big Cat theme instead.

This Cute Lion is from Lee Holland and as usual I've watercoloured him and then used a stencil to ink in some background coulds. I've framed him with one of my new dies which matches the wild animal theme, and made a custom sentiment using my Silhouette.  The 'you are' is stamped, but I wrote the Roar-some text around it and created a shadow layer to make it stand out a bit more.  

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs. Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Mane: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Cute Lion from Lee Holland
• Tattered Lace Nested Frames Spots
• MFT Cloud stencil
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline
• Card Making Magic Die Set Easel
• Silhouette (custom made sentiment and matt)
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Peekaboo Reindeer

Another simple Christmas card featuring a Stamping Bella Reindeer and Honey Bee Cuts Christmas sentiment die.

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Peekaboo Reindeer Stuffie from Stamping Bella
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Rectangle Stax

Other

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Green flat backed pearls
• Distress Ink Reinkers (watercolour inks)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Penguin Line Up

It's release day at Lili of the Valley and I'm sharing the second of my penguin cards. I love purple at Christmas and I think these pingus look fabulous with their purple presents.  These guys are only available as polymer stamps so if you have missed your LOTV physical stamps, this is a great opportunity to grab some Lili cuties again.

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Penguins: Tattered Rose, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Blues: Salty Ocean, Prize Ribbon
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Villainous Potion

Card Recipe:

• Penguins, Sentiments and Presents polymer stamps from Lili of the Valley
• Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Scalloped Rectangle Silhouette Cut file from Loni Harris

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Polar and Pingu

I'm sharing another sneaky peek of the new release due out tomorrow by Lili of the Valley.  I've watercoloured my polar bear and chum with Distress Reinkers and added a little Glamour Dust for snow. 

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Bear: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Penguin: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Polar Bears Polymer Stamp set from Lili of the Valley
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Memory Box Twilight Snowflakes
• Twine

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx