Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020.

I read earlier today something that shocked me when I stopped to think about it: 

1990 was 3 decades ago! 

Time seems to move so quickly and becomes so scarce. I can remember where I was in 1990 and it certainly doesn't feel like it was 3 decades ago!  

There are projects that I wanted to achieve during the past year that have fallen by the wayside, but there have also been other new ventures that I didn't have planned. 

As 2020 is only one more sleep away, here I am having my usual annual stumble through the past 12 months.  Thank you if you've stayed with me this year. I seem to be getting fewer visitors and even fewer comments on my blog, and I'm not a huge fan of Facebook, although I have tried to keep my Instagram diary mirroring my blog. 

I appreciate that it's more convenient for you to click a 'like' button than it is to type out a comment and I also acknowledge that I've been writing less myself for the same reason. If you do leave a comment, please know that I really do appreciate it because I know that it takes more of your own previous time.

Anyhoo, brace yourself for a photo-laden finale to 2019. I've selected my favourite card from each month and if you last until the end of this post then I'll share an extra little insight into my new hobby. 

In the meantime, I wish you all a happy, healthy and creative 2020. 

January 

I had 3 cards featured in Making Cards magazine this month, with a tutorial on Sunsets and Moonscapes. This was my first card and I loved the warm colours in the coldest month!

February

I was so excited to join the Design Team at Lee Holland and this was my first card. Unfortunately my excitement was short lived because the team was disbanded when Lee cut back his store's promotions.

March

I love the Stuffies from Stamping Bella and these Honeybears in particular.  I think they remind me of Winnie the Pooh, my favourite Honey Bear!

April

I spent a long time colouring this card for a friend, but the card was unfortunately lost in the post and never reached her. For this reason I'm giving it another outing here so it's not lost entirely.

May

I really loved this card-stand die, especially with this Crealies XXL stitched circle propped on it. 

June

I made this clock for a colleague who had a baby boy and it reminded me how much I like making non-card projects too. She wanted a jungle theme for her son so the Lee Holland giraffe and ellie seemed ideal.

July

Shaped cards are another thing I like to make and I'd been wanting to use this cute giraffe from LOTV for ages. It seemed the perfect opportunity to combine the two into a babygro card.

August

Bunnies are one of my favourite critters and LOTV make some of the cutest!

September

I really liked the moonlit background for these robins. 

The card was really easy to colour too so it became a favourite because I liked the effect.

October

In a break from my CAS cards, October's selection is fully loaded.

A wedding card is always a great excuse for extra embellishments!

November

While getting in full swing ready for Christmas I tried a lighter touch with my paintbrush and I liked the way she turned out.

December

Finishing off the year with one of my favourite images, another from the Stuffie clan!

So if you've stayed for the duration, I threatened you with news of a new hobby. I was coerced by my bestest pal (and partner-in-craft) to try crochet during the summer.  After starting with a scarf and some fingerless gloves I optimistically decided to dive straight into something a little more adventurous and made a mini-stocking advent calendar bunting for her.  While she might get me into a lot of crafting trouble, I do happen to think she's worth it! (Love you sweetie!)

Here's a close-up of one of the mini-stockings.

They were each filled with a Lindt chocolate ball.

That's all Folks.

Happy crafting, and Happy New Year! 

See you on the other side.
Annette
xx

Summer Clock

We want to know whether you prefer summer or winter colour combos this week at As You Like It Challenge and for my sample I've made a clock using a couple of cute Lee Holland digi images.

I don't normally opt for orange and yellow but I have been feeling really cold lately (despite it being June!) so I'm craving some warm colours.  These sunshine tones fit the bill perfectly.

The clock template is a freebie (help yourselves from my freebie page if you'd like a copy) and as usual I've water-coloured the images. I've decorated with Glossy Accents (on the numbers) and some Pixie Dust (on the bee wings) which gives them a lovely shimmer.

The bees were actually unplanned, but I like them now they're added.  I'd finished the colouring and was just putting it all together when I accidentally splashed two tiny drops of water onto the clock face. I immediately dabbed them with some kitchen paper, but they left two pale circles in the sky.  I hunted around in my stamps for a small butterfly and found the bees on my Joyful Heart Bears stamp set. They were the perfect size so I popped them on, gave them a bit of colour and shimmer, and voila! 

I've made the clock for a colleague who is due to start her maternity next week. She has a safari theme for her nursery but doesn't know the gender of her baby yet so I hope that, despite the flowers, it's acceptably gender neutral, although to be fair, I doubt her newborn will be using it to tell the time themselves for a while yet.... !

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

• Giraffe: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye
• Heffalump: Tattered Rose, Pumice Stone, Black Soot
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Baby Giraffe and Cute Elephant from Lee Holland digis
• Bee stamps from MFT Joyful Heart Bears
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pixie Dust
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Clock Mechanism
• Mountboard
• Clock Template (freebie)

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - It's a Bug's Life using DI reinkers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Fairy Card Stand

I find masculine cards a real challenge. I love cute images and usually gravitate to the girlie pastel colours, flowers, pearls, pretty papers and satin ribbons which probably doesn't help either!  Therefore I've opted for a very girlie card with lots of frilly embellishments today.  I'd love for you to pop over to the As You Like It Challenge this week to tell us whether you prefer masculine or feminine cards.

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

• Hair: Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord

Card Recipe:

• Dandelion Clock from LOTV
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Card Making Magic Die Set Easel

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Flowers &/or Showers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Puppy o'clock

I've not made one of these clocks for a little while so thought I'd have a play with the puppies again.  I just want to scoop them up and snuggle them!

Here's a close up of the cuties!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass, Broken China

Card Recipe:

• CC Designs Puppy Power
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• 5mm Aqua Crystals
• Clock Template
• Clock Mechanism

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes / Cute

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dandelion Clock

I've used an old LOTV image for today's card. The papers were also originally from LOTV but they are available now only as digis from Nitwit Creations. 

I've opted for a fussy card, with lots of embellishments including some gorgeous lilac satin ribbon, various flowers and some sparkly rhinestones.

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

• Hair: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn
• Dandelion: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, 
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Dandelion Clock from Lili of the Valley
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Double Stitched Rectangles
• 5mm Purple Crystals
• 15mm Lilac Satin Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - All Things Bright and Beautiful

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dandelion Clock

We are looking for pearls at In The Pink Challenge this fortnight and I've gone a little overboard with my pearl embellies.  I've added a white pearl string, a trinket pin featuring pearls and some flat backed pearls for good measure.  All the pearl embellies, flowers and the shocking pink ribbon are all from The Ribbon Girl and my image is Lili of the Valley.  My card also fits the theme for the 'girilie' themed challenge at Lili of the Valley's Facebook page which you still have a couple of days to enter with a card featuring a female character.

Card Recipe:

From Lili of the Valley:

• Dandelion Clock

From The Ribbon Girl:

• 15mm Shocking Pink Berrisford Satin Ribbon
• Cosmos Daisy Flower
• Lily Flowers Small Pale Pink
• 10mm Pale Pink Open Roses
• Cream Open Rose
• Hip Rose Bud Pink Two Tone
• Carnation Pale Pink
• 5mm Pink Pearls
• 3mm White Pearl Bead String
• Ivory Trinkey Pin

From Dies To Die For:

• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Glossy Accents

Other:

• Watercoloured with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Nitwit Collections Papers - Always and Forever
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Crystal Glamour Dust

Created for:

Sponsored by:

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes with Flowers
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Colour Inspiration
• Fab 'n' Funky - Fantasy

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Annual Review of 2016

I can barely believe that 2017 is just hours away, but here I am having my traditional nostalgic look back over my creations of the past 12 months and picking out my favourite projects.

This time last December I wrote that I'd 'only' written 206 posts (my fewest to date) but this year has been even fewer at just 196.  Yet I continue to believe that I've concentrated on quality rather than quantity.  

There have been an increasing number of clean and simple designs which I've been loving, although I still adore all my fancy flowers, ribbons and sparkly stuff so still sneak them in every now and again!  It's nice to create using both styles depending on my mood!

As well as already being part of the Lili of the Valley Design Creative I was so proud to be invited to join the Lili of the Valley Design Team which allows me to be among the the first to play with any gorgeous new releases!

As part of the Lili Design Team I was also invited to my first multiple page magazine spread which involved making 11 cards for a full feature length pull-out at Papercraft Essentials!  Talk about jumping in at the deep end, but in truth I absolutely LOVED it and my favourite card from the set was even featured on the front cover! :0)

I've also became 'Nutty Netty' at 'Squirrel's-Not-So-Random-Challenge', a fun new challenge which began in August.  One of our most interesting (for me) challenges is the current 'then and now' theme which asks us to look back to one of our early creations and 'recreate' it in our current style.  The difference in my 'then and now' creations was eye opening for me and although I'm still experimenting, learning and improving, I was delighted to see a huge improvement.  If you want to pop by the challenge please click on the link here but here's a quick reminder of my transition, from this (in October 2010):

   

to this in December 2016:

As usual I've made some new, and deepened some existing friendships with some lovely blogging buddies, and met up with a couple again which has been lovely.  That's what makes this such a special hobby for me. I can convert something which can be a solitary pursuit into something far more social.

Anyways, enough natter for now because being 31st December, I am doing my customary annual round up of my favourite projects from the last 12 months.

You'd better brace yourself for a photo heavy post, or just scroll to the bottom to see my aspirations for 2017 ...

I loved the image, the simple layout, and of course the pink!

I was pleased with my brushwork on this one, as well as the frilly bits perfect for the 'love' theme.

I love making non-card creations too, like this clock, as well as baggies and plaques.

I was pleased with my colouring on this one, as well as the layout and velvet ribbon, flowers etc.

This is one of my favourite Stamping Bella images, given full focus on this CAS layout.

I love making wedding cards since it's a great excuse to get pink and girlie with all the frills!

I had to include this one because it was my made for my first magazine feature.

Something different from me (not cute!) and I was so pleased with how it turned out.

My favourite shape and I was pleased with the brushwork and embellies too

I love personalised cards, and being pink, cute and fussy this was my favourite baby card this year

Another one featuring my favourite shape and lilac is my favourite colour for winter.

I was really pleased with how the brushwork on this pingu turned out

No list of favourites would be complete with out James the bear!

I'm usually not happy with my masculine cards, but this was an exception

And last but not least, was this stepper which I was so happy with.

Looking Back:

Well there's an awful lot of pink there, but a mix of fussy and clean & simple styles, perhaps leaning more to the CAS later in the year when I needed to increase my production of Christmas cards in time for December!  

Looking Forward:
So what are my optimistic resolutions for next year?   Well, although my resolutions this year are going the be similar to last year's, I'm going to be more specific this year, mainly because I've been failing miserably!  So my 2017 resolutions are more 'measurable' in an attempt to improve the likelihood of any resemblance of success! 

1. Make a minimum of 2 Christmas cards per month to reduce the late rush in December.
2. For every card using a newly purchased image, I must make 2 featuring an older image.
3. Make one male card per month (although this could be combined with #1).

Happy New Year:

Well that's all folks.  If you've stayed for the full post then I'm impressed! :0) It just leaves me to say thank you to all my lovely followers, old and new, and especially to everyone who has left me a comment or two this year.  I hope you've liked what you've seen, and hope you continue to pop back next year.

Happy New Year, and I hope that 2017 brings you health and happiness (and lots of crafting time too!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Splashing Around

This is the same image that I used on my clock a couple of days ago, but this time she's on a CAS card.   In contrast to yesterday's CAS layout, I've used a stitched speech die and 'hello' script die for the panel at the top.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Splashing Around from Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Maja Design Paper Pad
• Mama Elephant Hello Script Die
• Stitched Speech Bubbles

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - CAS
• Copic Marker Europe - Skin

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Splashing Clock

It's been a while since I shared one of my clocks and today's creation features a cute digi from Crafty Sentiment Designs.  I used my trusty clock template (see my freebies page if you want to grab it) and mountboard for the base.  I think this is the last of my clock mechanisms too so it may be my last clock for a while :0(

Card Recipe:

• Image - Splashing by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Copics
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• 15mm Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Card-io Majestix mini stamps
• Mount Board for clock base
• Card Template
• Clock mechanism
• Pearl star
• Butterfly Embellishment

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes / Song Inspiration (Splish Splash)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Ombre

Today is the start of a new challenge at In The Pink and it's a photo inspiration with lots of lovely ribbon, pearls, flowers and lace.  I've included all of these on my card as well as a pretty pink fairy. I've attempted some ombre colouring on the fairy's skirt and wings, but I'm not sure I've quite got the hang of it yet!

Here's the photo to give you some inspiration:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Dandelion Clock from Lili of the Valley (retired)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Marianne Design Die
• Lace
• Velvet ribbon
• Pearl string
• Button Twine

Created for:

Sponsored by:

I've been inspired by:

• The Ribbon Girl - Card Challenge (using lots of Ribbon Girl goodies)
• Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Time for Cuddles

I'm sharing a clock today which I made using my usual clock template.  A lovely lady had ordered 2 baby cards for her newborn niece, so I made her this clock as an extra (mainly because I like making them!) and personalised it for her.

It's also perfect to support the APRIL challenge at Lili of the Valley as I've used Aqua, Pink and Ivory. Click on the image below to take you to the challenge details:


Card Recipe:

• Image - Odd Dog Little Pals
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Viva Pearl Pen
• Clock Mechanism
• Mount Board
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Something Shiny
• Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challnege - Try to Resist (used a mask to create the chalked clouds)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Time Flies

The name of the image I've used today is called 'Time Flies' which is kinda appropriate as I've used her on a clock!  This one is mounted on chocolate brown mount board, and I've used a colour scheme of pink and green.  I've even graduated those colours in the numbering of the hours and quite liked the effect.

I've stamped around the clock face with mini leaf and flower stamps from Cardio and decorated the outside of the clock with flowers and pearls, making sure they wouldn't catch the second hand which is quite long.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Time Flies by Lili of the Valley
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Cardio mini stamps
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• The Ribbon Girl Chyrsanth Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Wink of Stella
• Brown mount-board
• Clock mechanism
• Clock template : One of my own freebies

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly - No Patterned Papers
• Stamping Sensations - Flower Power
• Stamp & Create - May Flowers
• Sister Act - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - May Flowers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx