Trick or Treat

.. and it's Halloween card number three (sorry if you're getting a bit tired of them!).

I love the rich orange on this one, and the cute little pumpkins.  I created the scene using a few images that I merged together digitally before printing it.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Mimi Pumpkins from Stampfairy (shop now closed)
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley Promises Solids paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Lawn Fawn Circle Stackables
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Cobweb corner die
• Cheery Lynn Spider Web Mesh Border Halloween die 

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Colour Inspiration

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Boo

Today is round two of my Halloween cards and this time it's a ghostie.  Again, he's more cute than spooky; I think the fuzzy feet and ears suggest this guy might be more cuddly than scary.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Halloween from Stampfairy (shop now closed)
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Cobweb corner die
• Dienamics Stitched Ovals
• Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Colour Inspiration

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Too Cute To Spook

I'm not a huge fan of Halloween; I don't like spiders, bats, zombies, ghosts or rabid dogs (yes, we had a young witch visit us one year with her 'rabid dog').

I was a little stunned (and honoured) to be asked by someone if I would make a Halloween card or two so I created this little cutie and a couple of others which I'll share over the next few days.

They were more cute than scary, so were fun to make and seemed to be well received.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Mimi Pumpkins from Stampfairy (shop now closed)
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Graphic 45 Papers
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Magnolia Doohickey Lovely Fence Die
• Corner cobweb die
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Colour Inspiration

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mimi Stars

I've got another 'Just for fun' card today.  Abi left a comment on my blog a couple of days ago saying how nice it is sometimes to make a JFF card, and I can certainly agree.  This one was fun as I used the no-lines technique again (I find it soooo hard, but very rewarding when it doesn't turn out too bad).  I've also used one of my favourite papers which is from LOTV.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Mimi Stars from Stampfairy - shop now closed :0(
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Gingham Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• 8mm Pearl Brad

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Favourite Technique (no lines - looks FAB when it's done well, but I find it so hard to do myself)
• Creative Inspirations - Favourite Occasion (Birthday because they are so flexible, no restrictions so I can let my creativity go with the flow)
• Dragonfly Dreams - Girlie
• Stamping Sensations - Sew Special

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Black Magic

Every year we get the usual coach load of kids knocking at the door on Halloween.

Every year I try to hang a towel over the inner porch door to cover up the glass, and turn the lights off.

Every year hubby tells me I'm being a misery and insists on removing the aforementioned towel and hanging up some pumpkin fairy lights to welcome the little brats darlings.

So to avoid the label of Halloween Scrooge, I've made some treat pouches for the string of ghouls and ghosties who are polishing up their buckets in preparation for the begging fest.

Yeah, I know.  I am a Scrooge, but at least hubby has something to give them until he gets fed up of the doorbell ringing and threatens to remove its battery for the night.  :0)

This is just a selection - I made 20, but they're all variations on the same theme, so I won't bore you more than I've done already!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Tommy Wizard and Barry Halloween
• Black Card
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Stitched Circle die
• Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder
• Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Charisma - Anything but a card
• Nordsalten Hobbyklubb - CAS
• My Craft Spot - Trick-or-Treat

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

The Secret Diary of Barry Bear

Hubby bought me a mini binding machine about a year ago, and after making the calendar project that I had been itching to make, it's been in the cupboard collecting dust since then.  So I decided to pull it out and put it to use for this fortnight's challenge at Top Tip Tuesday where the theme is Stationery.

I've designed and printed out a full year of a diary, with a week's view to each page and bound it all into a mini book using some mount-board covers (I had some leftover mount-board from making my clocks).  I did actually put design paper on the front and back, but then stamped over it with some floral mini stamps to match the colour theme of the image, so you can't see much of the design any more.

I also tied little strips of matching ribbon around the rings, but wasn't sure whether I liked them after I'd done them.  I did end up pulling them off, but they were on when I took the photos.

I designed the diary insert pages to fit four weeks on an standard A4 sized sheet of paper.  I chopped the printed sheets into quarters and that's the size of the diary.  I cut the mount board slightly larger to create the covers.

This is also my final challenge designing for Top Tip Tuesday.  I've been on this fabulous team since June 2011 and have had a wonderful time with a great bunch of designers and our lovely leading lady, Samantha.  But I've been feeling in a bit of a rut for the past couple of months and decided I need to inject some change in order to get my mojo back.  I am addicted to crafting.  It's a much needed 'release' from a stressful day job so over the next month I'm stepping back from four of my longest running teams, hoping that will free up some time to enable me to go in search of my missing mojo by trying some new creative challenges.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Spring from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Card-io mini stamps
• Maja Designs Vintage Summer Basic papers
• Spellbinders Labels 18 die
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Glossy Accents
• Mount-board
• Zutter Bind-it-all

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Flower Power
• Sparkles Monthly - Back to School

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Good Luck Barry - Pink

I was recently tasked with making two 'good luck' cards for some students, one masculine and one feminine.  The masculine one was posted last month (here) and today's is the pink and girlie one  :0)

It's given me the opportunity to use my Vintage Summer Basics paper pad again.  I really love the soft colours in this pad but it's getting used up rather too fast as I'm a little bit addicted to it!

Card Recipe:

• Image and sentiment - Barry Good Luck from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Maja Design Vintage Summer Basics paper pad
• Magnolia Doohickey Border Die
• Cardworks Card base
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Vintage Style Ribbon
• Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Nordsalten Hobbyklubb - Round
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Back to School
• Sparkles Challenge - Back to School

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Good Luck Barry

I'm sharing the first of 2 Good Luck cards I've made recently; this was one for a guy, so I tried to keep it masculine.

I used twine instead of ribbon and there's a distinct lack of embellishments.  Not a pearl in sight!  OK, so I did sneak in a little charm (to match the clover in the image) but c'mon, cut me a little slack!! I steered away from feminine satin ribbon and pearls, surely a little bit of metal is still masculine?

I've also used some blue papers from my gorgeous new Maja Designs Vintage Summer Basics pad.  I am really loving these papers, they're almost too good to use!

Card Recipe:

• Image and sentiment - Barry Good Luck from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Maja Design Summer Basics paper pad
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Blue Twine
• Clover Metal Charm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

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:

• Image - Barry Circles from Stampfairy
• Ribbon
• Glossy Accents
• Magnolia Doohickey Scalloped Label die
• Embossalicious 6x6 floral embossing folder

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

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:

• Image - Barry Circles from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Distress Inks
• Vintage Style Ribbon
• Magnolia Doohickey Tag die
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Cardmakers - Circles
• That's Crafty - Texture

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

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:

• Image - Barry Circles from Stampfairy
• Purple Onions Designs sentiment
• Colouring - Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley Petal Fresh Papers
• Ribbon
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly Challenge
• Fab 'n' Funky Challenge
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge
• Allsorts Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

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:

• Image - Barry Circles from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Magnolia Doohickey Scalloped Tag Die
• Ribbon
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Tag It
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Lawnscaping Challenge - Embossing

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

That candy cane looks like an 'elf hazard!

The theme today at ABC Christmas Challenge is J for Jolly Old Elf, so I've using an image of Tommy dressed as an elf, although I'm a bit worried about the size of that candy cane.  He's going to put his back out lifting that 'cos it's bigger than he is!  I hope he knows that you should always lift from your knees!

I spent quite a while getting the shading right on the candy cane, but then afterwards am not sure I achieved much as the the photo has lost some of the pale grey shadows that I put on the white bits.  Hmph!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Santa's Little Helper Candy Canes from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Cardworks Card base
• Dovecraft 'Tis the Season paper pad
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Moss Green Satin Ribbon
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challenge - M - Masculine, Markers, Merry, Moss Green Ribbon

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Up Up and Away

Today's card has been created with some lovely cloud papers from Nitwits that seemed just perfect for this image of cute little Barry the bear being carried away by his balloons.  It reminded me of the film 'Up' and is to support the 'Up Up and Away' challenge which starts today at Crafty Little Fairies.

I've tried to get a teeny outline hint of the other two balloons behind the front red one, but it did end up only being the smallest of hints, because you can only just make them out through the red one if you look really closely.

I've been playing with my new bow-maker (as you might be able to tell!)   I think I've made nothing but double bows since I got it!  Other than a few (ok, quite a few) pearls, I've laid off the embellishments, which is unusual for me, but I didn't want to cover up the clouds.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Balloons from Stampfairy
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• Nitwits Digi Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Catz - Animals
• Passion for Promarkers - All Creatures Great and Small
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Animal Antics

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mimi Easter

I don't usually send Easter cards, but wanted one for my mother-in-law, and couldn't resist this little cutie of Mimi from Stampfairy holding a little Easter chick.  Those bunny ears are just adorable!

This project is to support the Paper Piecing challenge at Top Tip Tuesday.  I've digitally paper pieced Mimi's dress, shoes, head band and hair scrunchies with the same Nitwits paper that I used on the card.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Mimi Easter from Stampfairy
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Nitwits Digi Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Spellbinders Floral Ovals
• Pearls
• Yellow Ribbon
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Easter
• Cute Card Thursday - Easter
• Papertake Weekly - Easter

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Good Luck Barry

I've got a 'just for fun' card to share today, and it features Barry the bear.  I've not used him for a while so it was good to see him again!  Green isn't a colour that I use a lot, as it's not one of my favourites, but these papers are so pretty that I didn't mind!

Card Recipe:

• Image and Sentiment - Barry Good Luck from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Copics
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Nitwits Digi Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Green Bakers Twine from The Ribbon Girl
• Border die

I've been inspired by:

• The Sketchy Challenge
• Simon's Wednesday Glitter Challenge
• The Ribbon Girl Colour Challenge
• Simon's Monday Lucky Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bumble Bee, eating Humble Pie

After making my Birthday Planner (click here for link to the post) last month, to ensure that I wouldn't miss any birthdays, guess what happened!

D'oh.

It was my lovely teamie Sarah's birthday earlier this week, and I even remembered the date a couple of weeks ago, but at that time I thought it was too early to send a card.  And then I promptly forgot again.

Double d'oh!

Anyway, better late than never.  So, I made a new card, with a belated birthday wish sentiment as an apology!  I kept the card kind of simple, as I think she prefers them this way, but I couldn't resist adding some pearls and glitter.  I also used a cute Barry bear image, as I know she likes him too.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Bee from Stampfairy 
• One of my own Freebie Sentiments
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Cardworks Card base
• Graphic 45 Secret Garden Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Lacey Circle Spellbinder Nesties
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Pearls
• Memory Box Simple Banner Die
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Sketch N Stash - Sketch (old stash = daisy ribbon I've had for years, and totally neglected)
• Stamping Sensations - Wings, Fantasy and Fiction (wings, plus you don't get much more fictional than a teddy bear in a bumble bee costume!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Inspiration from a box ... or maybe it was the chocolates?

I received a lovely box of chocs for Christmas, and decided that the gorgeous circular box was just too lovely to throw away and I kept it to decorate.  Unfortunately, of course, before I could decorate it, I would firstly have to empty it.

Well, that was a really difficult task, but I battled on, and managed to succeed in emptying it fairly quickly.  ;0)

After bravely emptying the box, I painted it using some leftover cream paint (I had to give it several coats to hide the dark bits), and after much frustration trying to get rid of brush marks, I used a small paint roller to roll out the brush marks, which gave it a lovely mottled effect.  

Once the paint had dried, I decorated it with lots of layers of cream and gold card, a gorgeous teddy bear image (teddies are something else I love as well as chocolates boxes).  

I added some gorgeous gold organza ribbon, and some golden die cut hearts.  

Finally I stamped teeny flowers and leaves around the largest circle layer, and also all around the sides of the box, and wrapped more of the organza ribbon around the edge and tied a small knot to hold it in place.

This project is to support the inspirational object challenge at As You Like It Challenge and also the Teddies challenge at Crafty Little Fairies.

Here's the original box (no drooling now girls!)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Spring from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Gold Organza Ribbon
• Gold Mirri card
• Corrugated Gold Card
• Memory Box Precious Hearts Die
• Whiff of Joy Heart Banner Die
• Go Kreate Frilly Frame 10 Nestie

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Clever Cutting (die cuts)
• Bunny Zoe - Hearts / Love

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mimi Hearts

Despite my New Year's resolution (2 years running) to water colour my images rather than reach for the quick and easy option of Copics, this is only my second attempt this year to keep that going.

However, my other resolution, which was to not buy any more crafting goodies, has failed miserably.  To be honest, it had probably failed before I'd even gone back to work on 2 Jan.  Therefore I'm arguing that two outings of the DI reinkers in 2 weeks isn't actually bad going, in comparison!

Anyway, this is little Mimi with her sparkly heart deely-boppers.  I've used a paper from my favourite Papermania pad, but a design that I've not used much.  The colours of the paper matched the colours I'd used on my image perfectly, so my colour matching OCD was appeased.

I added little loops of purple ribbon with, sparkly edges behind the image panel using small red heart brads.

Card Recipe, featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Image - Mimi Hearts from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Water coloured using Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Ribbon
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Heart brad

I've been inspired by:

• Sketch n Stash - Sketch (the flat flower is one I've had for YEARS and thought I'd use up today)
• Inky Chicks - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Blooms and Pearls
• My Mum's Craft Shop - Love
• Hobby House - Ribbons (purple pearls)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Purple Barry

I've got a just for fun Christmas card to share with you today, and it features the lovely Barry bear from Stampfairy.  He's shrouded in a purple colour scheme and I kept the design quite simple, following a C&S style sketch.  I already had the image printed out, and I just had to colour it, so it's made a quick and easy last minute Christmas card.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Countdown to Christmas from Stamp Fairy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Cardworks Card base
• Pink Petticoat Digi papers
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Various Snowflake Dies

I've been inspired by:

• Graph'it Challenge - Anything goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Last Minute Christmas
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch #237

Happy Crafting

Annette
xx