Red Poinsettia

I don't usual make a card without a stamped image, but today's an exception.  It's an uber C&S card in a festive monochrome red.  I've also managed to christen my new Merry Christmas die from Simon Says Stamp.  Unfortunately I can't remember where I got the poinsettia die from.  :0(  but it's actually to support the challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge where the theme is R for Red Poinsettias.

Card Recipe:

• Cardworks Card base
• Merry Christmas die
• Embossalicious Snowflake Embossing Folder
• Red Twine
• Poinsettia Die
• Pearls
• Corner punch

I've been inspired by:

• My Mum's Craft Shop - Dies or punches (I used both!)
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

A Quick and Simple Merry Christmas (or two)

I've been making some C&S style Chrimbo cards to sneak in some quick makes.  These two are slight variations on a theme.

Well, in truth the main difference is the snowflake and the base shape, so it's very 'slight'.

Oh and I trimmed the white panel on the second one so that the red backing card framed it a bit.  But otherwise, it's just a die cut sentiment, some twine, a snowflake and a pearl.

There's nothing remotely cute in sight, so even hubby approved for once!  It's so rare that he likes my creations, that it's probably safe to say that he'll be receiving one of these himself for Christmas this year! :0)

This project is to support the Q for Quick challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge.  Even making 2 of these was quicker than one of my usual coloured creations, so it definitely qualifies for the theme, although I do feel like I cheated a bit by not colouring an image!

Card Recipe:

• Cardworks Card base
• Memory Box Grand Merry Christmas Die
• Snowflake Dies (sorry can't remember what they are, as they were already cut)
• Mauve and Ivory Bakers Twine
• Pearl

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Winter Wonderland - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - To Die For

Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it baby

I decided to make a shaker card; a style that I've not made for a while, but a challenge had caught my eye and motivated me to have another try.

So after a bit of pondering, I drafted out my design, printed out some text in fancy fonts, and die cut a trio of circles using a circle nestie.

I then spent ages carefully sticking 3D foam pads around each circle to create the pocket, avoiding any gaps that the pesky beads could slip through.

When I was done sticking, I sat back from concentrating hard on the teeny foam pads, and admired the neatness and lack of gaps.

That was the point where I noticed that in my keenness to get the pads on without any spaces, I'd left the biggest 'hole' of all, because I'd forgotten to add the acetate first.

So it was back to the drawing board to start again.

Card Recipe:

• Typed Sentiment
• Cardworks Card base
• Pearls
• Circle Nesting Die
• Acetate
• Seed beads
• Twine

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - White
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Shaker Cards

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

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

Mission Impossible (well, it is for me)

The hubster needed a card for his brother's birthday.

The challenge, should I choose to accept it, was as follows:

1. No bears,
2. Definitely no cute stuff,
3. Nothing pink,
4. Or purple,
5. Or lilac,
6. Or any other colour that could be deemed pink or purple by a man,
7. No glitter,
8. No flowers,
9. No satin ribbons,
10. No pearls,
11. No other kind of 'fluffy' embellishments, or what-nots,
12. No pretty papers,
13. No theme that could be considered 'feminine',
14. Did I mention no cute bears?

So let me just check ... this one wouldn't be any good, right? ...

OK, OK, OK.

I pondered what might be left in a crafter's life once the above list had been banned?

So here goes.

A plain and simple, no frills card, as masculine as I could muster.

And not a pink bear in sight.

Card Recipe:

• Cardworks Card base
• Memory box Happy Birthday Die
• XCut Star Nested dies
• And a whole lot of physical restraint

I've been inspired by:

• Delightful Challenges - It's a Guy Thing
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Allsorts Challenge - For the Guys

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Thank you

I wanted to make a clean and simple 'thank you' card for someone who (like me) likes purple.  I decided on my layout, and needed a wide ribbon.  But the ribbon I wanted to use was so sheer that the white butterflies on it didn't show up very well.   So I cut two strips of the ribbon, layered one on top of the other, and then lined up the layers so that the butterflies were in the same place on each layer.  Then I folded both layers around the card panel, sticking them on the back with tape.  The doubled-up ribbon made the purple appear darker, and therefore the white butterflies stood out more clearly.

I've also been trying to use my new Grungy Messages stamp set that I got from my visit to Leeds before Easter.  I've stamped a couple out, but each time I try them for size on a card, they seem too big, so I've had to leave them off.  This card has finally given me the opportunity to use one by making it centre stage.

This project is perfect to support the 'Monochrome' challenge at Top Tip Tuesday which starts today.

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Sentiment Set - Everyday Grungy Messages
• Cardworks Card base
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Purple Bazzill Card
• Purple Versamark ink
• Craft Concepts In Bloom Embossing Folder
• Purple Butterfly Sheer Ribbon
• Stickles

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Artsy Stamp

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Something a little different ...

I've got something a little different to share with you today.

Inspired by the pretty Wild Rose Studio Bluebell papers, I've got a bit carried away and forgotten the image!!!  ;0)

Card Recipe, featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Wild Rose Studio Bluebell Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Purple Bazzill Cardstock
• Memory Box Grand Heart die
• Memory Box Vivienne Butterfly die
• Memory Box A Little Thanks die
• Button Lilac Mix
• Burlap Twine Natural
• Hobby House 3mm Lilac Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Sketch Saturday - Sketch (rotated)
• Hobby House - Buttons (3mm lilac pearls - I'm addicted to these pearls!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

The definition of retirement

It's happening a bit more often than I'd like lately, but whenever I have a particularly crappy week at work, I console myself by remembering that it's one less week until retirement!

There's nothing like wishing your life away, huh!

Anyway, for one of my colleagues, that time has come (lucky lady).  She's taking early retiring, but however jealous I might be, I think it's fair to say that she's earned it.

I wanted to make her a 'Happy Retirement' card, but had two problems to overcome;  Not only do I find this theme quite a tough one, but also she's not really into my fussy style cards.  So I did some thinking, and eventually came up with a design which I hope she might like.

For such a simple card, you would not believe how much time it took to plan!  I even procrastinated for a while about adding a trio of pearls in one or other corner, but in the end decided it didn't need anything else. So I stopped.

Talk about 'Simples!'  :0)

Card Recipe, featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Typed Sentiment (Font = Arabic Typesetting)
• Cardworks Card base
• Papers - Crafty Impressions Lace Butterflies
• Berisfords Aqua Satin Ribbon
• Pearl ribbon buckle

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

100 Today - Birthday Card

My next door neighbour is 100 today, so I've made her a little card. She's having an open house this afternoon with tea and cake, but it finishes at 6pm and unfortunately I don't think I'll be home from work before then.  :0(

This card is really different for me as it has no image.  I admit that I was a bit stumped for inspiration, but a search on Google unearthed a really pretty card made by Amanda, and it seemed perfect, so I made my own version.  I think mine is a bit of a pale imitation of Amanda's, but not too bad (especially considering I had to make this card in super quick time, because I didn't realise it was her birthday tomorrow until earlier this evening!)

The sentiments are typed, printed straight onto the pretty paper in brown font to match the colour scheme.  Unfortunately I can't remember what the papers are.  They were bits I've had for ages and don't have the front page any more.  I also didn't quite have enough paper to cover the top half of the card either, so I used two strips, and covered the join over with a length of ribbon.  (I actually use this trick quite a lot when I use scraps of paper, but shhhh, don't tell anyone !)

Finally I added a brown flower, some leaf die cuts, and some pretty pink pearls in the corners.

Card Recipe:

• Sentiments - Typed
• Papers - Can't remember, can anyone help me with this one?
• Nesties - Labels 18
• Cherry Blossom  - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Border punch - Martha Stewart Lace Doily
• From my stash -  Dark brown ribbon, Marianne leaf die, pink pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Delightful Challenges - Use your scraps (papers)
• Paper Sundaes - Birthdays
• Sentimental Sundays - Let's get Sentimental (focus on sentiment)
• The Ribbon Girl - Brown pink and cream
• Really Reasonable Ribbon - Brown and Pink with ribbon
• Crafter's Companion - Anything Goes
• Bunny Zoe - Celebrations
• OSAAT - No image

Happy Crafting

Let's get sentimental

There is a new challenge today at 2 Sisters Challenges, and the theme to play along with this week is sentiments, no images at all, just sentiments.  This week we're sponsored by One Stop Craft Shop.

Card Recipe:

• Sentiment - Raindrop Echo
• Papers - Robyn's Fetish Dreamy
• Border punch - Fiskars
• From my stash - Pearls, seam binding, stickles

Please pop on over to the 2 Sisters Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Charisma Cardz - Sky (used only sky colour)
• Cute Card - Anything Goes
• Dutch Dare - Monochromatic (this has to be the most monochromatic card I've ever done !)
• Paperplay - Punches or Dies
• Crafty Ann - Make yourself uncomfortable (OMG there's no main image to colour.  I knew I'd forgotten something !!!) LOL
• Aly's Sunday - Bow
• OSAAT - Anything Goes
• Sparkles - Only one colour
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting.