Christmas Critters

Although I do love robins and reindeer, my favourite Christmas critters are Penguins.  I love their waddle and I have a tote bag which says 'you cannot be sad when you look at a penguin' which I think is very true!  I've used an adorable image aptly named Penguins with Christmas Tree by Lee Holland, which I've watercoloured using DI reinkers and glitter.  I've added some flowers, pearls and a Magnolia Merry Chrismtas die.  My tag base is my favourite XXL Crealies tag die.

Designed for:  As You Like It Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Woodland Fox

For my 'favourite wild animal' this week at As You Like It Challenge I've picked a fox, because we regularly have them visiting our garden at night and I love seeing them pottering around the flower beds!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Fox by Lee Holland Digi Stamps
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Shaped cardbase cut with my Silhouette cutting machine

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Watercoloured Bunny

My favourite colouring medium is my disress ink reinkers which I use for watercolouring almost every project. I have recently been learning coloured pencil drawing but I've not managed to use them very successfully for my cards, and I find the watercolouring quite therapeutic anyway, so it's not a bad thing to have both mediums for different hobbies.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Bunny with Flower by Lee Holland Digis
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tiger

My favourite safari animal has to be the tiger. I've loved them since I was tiny and I remember learning all about them for a scrapbook project I made when I was at primary school. They're still my favourite now, beautful and graceful.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Tiger by Lee Holland Digi
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• 3mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Little Bear

My favourite colours are soft pastels, particularly pink, blue and purple, so this sweet bear features all three, including some of my favourite papers and embellishments in the same colour theme.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Bear with Gift digi image by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Enamel dots from Hobbycraft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Daisy Elephant

I'm not very reliable at popping sentiments on my cards, so when I do it is often a simple 'happy birthday'. However, I do like creating my own sentiments with fancy fonts, so I've created this one in 2 different fonts and overlaid them so they fit together for added interest.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Elephant digi image by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• The Paper Boutique Thanks Daisy Frame die

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Badger Birthday

My favourite card layout is cover a square base card with two pretty patterned papers top & bottom. I cover the join with some ribbon and add a double bow at the side. Often the image is die cut into a circle, and I'll add a posy of flowers on the diagonals. The final touch is a trio of pearls in the opposite diagaonal corners. I've used this sketch many many times, and still love the layout because it gives lots of interest, texture and embellishment to frame the image.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Badger with Birthday Gift digi image by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Koala Cuddles

Pastels are my favourite colours, and in particular pinks, blues and purples. I think they're easier on the eye and pretty.  I've used lots of pinks on today's card, even for the little koala critter for a bit of fun.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Koala on a Branch digi image by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL34 Double Stitched Squares

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Moush-room

I love creating cards with texture and embellishments, my favourites being paper flowers. I've added a posy of cosmos daisies, roses and tulips to this sweet birthday card.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Mouse on Mushroom digi image by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame Die
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Tulip Flowers
• Flat enamel dots from Hobbycraft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

In the Dog House

It's always nice to receive complements when you give a hand crafted item, and today's card is made for a sweet friend who always appreciates the work that's gone into a hand crafted card.  She usually opens her card in front of me and shows it around the office to all her co-workers. It's a really nice feeling to know that your creations are enjoyed and possibly kept rather than binned once the special occasion has passed.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Puppy digi stamp by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame Die
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Kingfisher Blue

Pastels are my favourites, as I find them calming on the eye.  In particular I like blue, pink and purple.  I've chosen this pretty pastel blue because the card and papers are some of my favourites.  I believe the image might be a robin, but I've chosen to colour him as a chubby kingfisher to continue the blue theme.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Digi image by Lee Holland on Etsy
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Cute Bunny

I'm not sure elegant is a quality that would apply to me in any thread of my life, and when it comes to cute versus elegant in my crafting, it's definitely cute that wins the vote!  In particular cute critters.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Bunny with Flower digi stamp by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Birthday Gnome

Today's card is for one of my lovely As You Like It Challenge teamies.  My gnome image is watercoloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers. I've framed him with some pretty papers and added a personalised typed sentiment.

Card Recipe:

• Gnome image by Lee Holland Digis
• Bubblegum Pink Card 170gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Personalised typed sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Lilac Heffalump

Ribbon is one of my favourite embellishments, and I have boxes of it in dozens of colours and shades.  My favourite is satin, but today I've used a gingham one which tones better with my card colours. I love the 3D effect on a card which makes it look more handcrafted when it's gifted.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Elephant image by Lee Holland Digis
• Watercoloured using Distress Ink Reinkers
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• 15mm gingham ribbon
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Tulip Flowers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL67 Double Stitched Ovals

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Flower Gnome

This week at As You Like It Challenge we're asking you to share your favourite die.  This is an easy one for me, because I absolutely love my circle dies, of which I have a few with different stitching designs. But my most used is this simple single stitch design by MFT.  I love the variation of using a circle die on a square card, and the stitching is a lovely textured effect.  What did we do before these stitched edge dies became popular!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

Card Recipe:

• Flower Gnome image from Lee Holland Digis
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Organza Ribbon
• Satin Ribbon
• Flat backed pearls

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Autumn Badger

I really like making layered card with 3D elements, my favourites being flowers and ribbons. Many of my cards feature images framed with paper flowers and a double bow (a bowmaker is fabulous for this).  It does make mailing more bulky, but I love the effect of making it look more crafted than store-bought.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

Card Recipe:

• Badger digi by Lee Holland Digis
• Seam binding ribbon
• 3mm satin ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pinks and Blues (with a touch of purple)

This week at As You Like It Challenge we want to know what your favourite 2 colour combos are.  For me, I prefer soft pastel pink and blue, but I also like purple, so I admit there's a touch of purple in my card too!  These are my go-to colours, and feel prettier than bold colours, although I have surprised myself and used a few bold citrus colours this year for summer vibes!  Anyway, today I'm focused on my pinks and blues (with a touch of purple!, but what's wrong with an extra colour beween friends!).  The gnome image stamp is from Lee Holland (Esty). I've watercoloured my image using Distress Ink Reinkers on Ecoline Watercolour card and added a typed sentiment in some fancy fonts.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Embossed Lamb

This week at As You Like It Challenge we want to see your favourite style of embossing, whether it be wet or dry, folder or stylus etc.  While I love the effect of wet embossing, I find it a bit messy to do it myself, and I love the impact of some of my lovely embossing folders. I think they give a wonderful texture to cards, and I love the intricate design of some of my favourite folders. My card today features some embossed daisies which give a 3D texture frame to my watercoloured lamb panel.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

• Lamb: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tea Dye, Tattered Rose
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Cute Lamb by Lee Holland Digis
• Woodstock Giallo Card 285gsm
• Mocha Brown Card 240gsm
• 15mm Spotty Ribbon
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Whimsy Stamps Slimline Embossing Folder Daisies
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Kingfisher

My husband likes kingfishers, so I've watercoloured this sweet anniversary card for him using this image.

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

Card Recipe: 

• Little Kingfisher digi image by Lee Holland
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Typed Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Spring Fox

This week at As You Like It Challenge we want to see your favourite sketch / layout. This was an easy one for me, because I revisit this particular layout very often. I like the ability to showcase 2 pretty papers (often from my favourite paper designer, Nitwit Collections) with the join covered by some pretty satin ribbon.  I frame a circular image panel with flowers and a double bow in opposite diagonals and a trio of flat backed pearls in the opposite corners. It enables me to use my favourite embellishments (flowers, ribbons and pearls) in a 3D card.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tea Dye, Tattered Rose
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• 'Whites': Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Fox image by Lee Holland Digis at Etsy
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Woodstock Giallo Card 285gsm
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds

Happy crafting
Annette
xx