It's Beginning to Smell A Lot Like Christmas (in February)

I know it's March tomorrow, but it's never to early to start thinking about Christmas and I'm on a mission to avoid having a rush in December when I realise that I only have about a quarter of the cards I want to send.  Plus the weather is something that would have been more 'normal' at Christmas than a day shy of March!

This little guy is from Gerda Steiner and I hope he's masculine enough to be able to qualify for my tally of cards for the guys.  What do you think?

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

• Fur: Tattered Rose, Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Drink/Boots: Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Smell Like Christmas
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Plaid Patterns Merry & Bright Paper Pack
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs
• Cute Card Thursday - Cute Critters
• Noor! - Celebrations
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You Are Rawsome!

I've got a monster of a card to share today, with some help from Gerda Steiner!  This little fella is keen to scare you, but I've heard he's really just a big softie!  The sentiment is from a different Gerda Steiner monster set but it seemed to suit this guy so I've paired them up.

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

• Fur: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord 
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Coffee Monster
• Gerda Steiner Monster Fun
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Flat Backed Pearls

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• The Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Warm and Fuzzy

We're talking sentiments at As You Like It Challenge, more specifically how you like to add them. You might choose die cut, stamped, typed, label maker, tag, etc.  The list is endless!  

Quite often I get so engrossed in the image that I completely forget to include a sentiment, but I've been really trying hard to remember the pesky things!  In the past I stamped or printed my sentiments and added them like a tag or label to my finished card.  I'd certainly never dream of stamping them directly onto the face of my image panel through fear of messing up the stamped image and under no circumstances would I attempt that after I'd coloured the image (which is usually when I think of adding a sentiment).  

However, all that changed when I bought my Stamping Platform. It was a real game changer for me and given me a new found confidence in stamping sentiments after I've coloured the image.  As often happens with ink stamping, my sentiment didn't stamp perfectly the first time so I just inked it up and pressed it down again! The Stamping Platform has opened up a whole new world of sentiment stamping for me! I'd held off buying one for so long but now it's one of my most used tools, even on cards using a digi for the main image, like today's cute Gerda Steiner bunnies.

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

• Bunnies: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, 
• Paws: Worn Lipstick
• Tulip: Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Lawn, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Gerda Steiner Spring Bunny Friends
• MFT Friends Furever (sentiment)
• MFT Bundles of Blossoms Pastels Paper Pack
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Border Dies
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Die cut (stitched edger die)
• Deep Ocean - Love is all Around
• That's Crafty - I Heart You
• They Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner - Progressive Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Wood You Be Mine?

Happy Valentines Day!  

Today I'm sharing a little fella from CC Designs who I've used on a Valentine card.  

Whilst the image is a real cutie, I'm still counting him as a contribution to my tally of masculine cards!

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
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Trousers/Gillet: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Shirt: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Boots: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Black Soot
• Axe: Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• CC Designs Lumberjack Guys
• CC Designs Lumberjack Sentiments
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2

Other:

• Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour paper pad

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean - Love is all Around
• That's Crafty - I Heart You
• The Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More - Love
• Creatalicious - Love

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Kokeshi Dolls

Lili of the Valley are bringing out a new range of stamps called 'Simply Sweet' so today I'm sharing an image from the new brand called Kokeshi Dolls.  I've kept the design very simple and masked the 3 dolls together to make a larger image.

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

• Hair/Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Green: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Kokeshi Dolls from Simply Sweet Stamps
• Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies
• Papermania Paper pack

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pop Up Monster Birthday

I coloured up these little monsters before pondering what to make with them but since there were a few of them I decided to make a pop up box card (at least I think that's what this fold is called!) where they could all feature together.  

I think they work well, plus it all folds up to fit in an envelope and mail flat!  Ideal :0)  

I used a sentiment from the same stamp set, but I masked off part of it because it wouldn't all fit in. 

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

• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Victorian Velvet, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Monster Sized
• MFT Dienamics Monster Sized
• Versafine Ink Pad

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Noor Design - Celebrations
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

No Peeking

I always like stitching on cards, both faux and real. I have accumulated a lot of stitched dies over the past couple of years since they first became popular, but I still really love making the effort to do the real thing because it seems to be the exception to the norm (a bit like me!).  After getting a bit wobbly with my stitches though, I am thinking I should've opted for the stitched dies instead!

I've used an adorable new image called Reindeer with a Present by Kinda Cute by Patricia and watercoloured him using the no-lines technique. 

Unfortunately the papers were loose in my stash, and although I'm pretty sure they're Maya Design, I'm willing to be told otherwise if you know.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Antlers/hooves: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Reindeer with a Present by Kinda Cute by Patricia
• Maya Design Papers (I think!)

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspiration - Something New (image)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Fiona Loves Flowers

It's my mid-week post for Dies to Die For and I've used one of my favourite images from Stamping Bella. She's called Fiona loves Flowers and it's safe to say that I love Fiona!  I've not tried her in blond before and blonds do scare me a bit in terms of colouring, but I took a leaf out of the lovely Squirrel's book and used some Scattered Straw ink which gave it a beautiful golden shine.  The 40 sentiment was cut out 3 times in purple card and once in the patterned papers so it's quite well padded!

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

• Hair: Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Tea Dye 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint
• Flowers: Dusty Concord, Picked Rasberry, Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral, Victorian Velvet, Aged Mahogany, Barn Door
• Ground: Pumice Stone
• Bird: Brushed Corduroy

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Fiona Loves Flowers by Stamping Bella
• Versafine Ink Pad
• CCD Mini Alpha and Numbers

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers Promises Solids
• 6mm Satin Ribbon Chocolate Purple
• Double Stitched Square Dies

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Go Wild

I can't believe that it's mid-week already but I have a "Wild" card to share with you.  The image is from a Gerda Steiner stamp set called Go Wild and I've used two images and a sentiment from the set.  I drew the grasses in with a pencil before shading them in (just in case I didn't like them!).  Methinks my little guy is peeking in the wrong direction though if he wants to see some wildlife!  :0) 

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

• Browns: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Stormy Sky
• Elephant: Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Ground: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Go Wild
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax

Other:

• NitWit Collections Romance & Roses papers

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda's Share Your Design

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Grandson Bunny

It's another personalised baby card from me today featuring an adorable bunny from Lili of the Valley.  This one's a 'grandson' theme for the same lucky laddie. It's watercoloured as usual but with the no-lines technique - I really must need my head examined when I use this technique because it's so much harder.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Ears: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Peacock Feathers
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
• Reds: Abandoned Coral
• Ground: Old Paper, Peeled Paint

Card Recipe:

• Baby Trio from Lili of the Valley
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• 15mm Cornflower Satin Ribbon
• 5mm Aqua Crystals
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Tiny Tags
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Banner Alphabet
• Pion Spring Meadow Paper

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Tag It
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• That's Crafty! - Feeling Blue
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Girl

Following yesterday's baby boy card, I've made a girl version!  I won't go into details because it's much the same, using the same image and sentiment from Lili of the Valley, but just in pink this time.

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

• Fur: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• AlphaBears from Lili of the Valley
• AlphaWords from Lili of the Valley
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Tulip Flowers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crealies XXL #41 Pierced Circles

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Boy

I've made an easel card for a baby boy using one of my favourite bear sets from Lili of the Valley.  The whole theme is blue and I've added lots of flowers and ribbons to make it a real keepsake card.  We're looking for your favourite dies this fortnight at As You Like It Challenge and I'd have to say for me it's anything stitched, but I really do like circle nesties. I have a fair few of them in different varieties (dotted, stitched, double stitched, scalloped ...) so I think this is probably a good choice although picking a favourite die is like picking a favourite ice cream - you can't pick just one when you have so many delicious ones to choose from!

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

• Fur: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Lili of the Valley Alphabears
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• 15mm Satin Ribbon Cornflower

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• That's Crafty - Something Blue
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add a sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Going Places

It feels like it should be at least Friday this week already, but instead I'm finding it's only Wednesday so I'm sharing my mid-week post for Dies to Die For featuring some fabulous images from MFT called Up in the Air.  I've also used some stitched cloud dies and stitched scene builder dies so there's a bit of 'stitched' theme running in the background!

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

• Fur/Feathers: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Peacock Feathers
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Up in the Air
• MFT Dienamics Up in the Air
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Frantic Stamper Stitched Scene Builder Edges
• Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Birds of a Feather using Distress Ink Reinkers
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• The Sketchy Challenge - New Stash (stamps and dies)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bitty Bear - Birthday Wishes

It's time for my mid-week creation and I've been busy making a box card using Bitty Bears from MFT.  I've inked and watercoloured 5 of the bears and a few of the accessories together with a couple of items from the Birthday Bears stamp set for the flaps of my box card.

I added some Stitched Clouds from Memory Box and a 'Wishes' sentiment die. The one I used was WPlus9 but MFT Dienamics Cause for Celebration is a really close match.  The stamped 'Birthday' comes from the Birthday Bears stamp set (I used the "Birthday Bear Hugs" stamp and masked off the 'Bear Hugs' part)

The foliage around the fence is Memory Box Lavish Branch and the fence is also from Memory Box.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Victorian Velvet, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Bitty Bears
• MFT Dienamics Bitty Bears dies
• MFT Birthday Bears
• MFT Dienamics Birthday Bears dies
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Memory Box Lavish Branch
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• Memory Box Wrought Iron Fence
• MFT Dienamics Cause for Celebration (a close match for my 'Wishes' die)
• Glossy Accents

Other:

• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Patterned Papers
• Allsorts - Something New (the stamp and die sets)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Peek-a-boo Panda

Today's creation features an adorable panda from Gerda Steiner Designs which I've cropped to make a peek-a-boo tag or bookmark.  I've used my new Crealies Tags which were a Chrimbo pressie from one of my lovely blogging pals (she knows who she is - mwah!). They're beautifully designed because they work in pairs to make a set of 6 nested tags.  I've used the smallest pair but it's still quite sizeable to showcase my lovely panda which I've watercoloured using the no-lines technique.  I hope you like him as much as I do. :0)

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

• Panda: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Weathered Wood
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick

Card Recipe:

• Panda in Love from Gerda Steiner
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12
• Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Silver ribbon
• 3mm Red Satin Ribon
• Black glaze pen
• White gel pen

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda's Progressive Challenge
• Creative Inspirations - Something New
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Something New
• Alsorts - Something New
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Something New

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

My Significant Otter

It's a free for all at As You Like It this fortnight and I've inked up this sweet otter from Whimsy Stamps.  He's quite a large image so he's been given centre stage on my card as I didn't want to crop him. I love his expression and although I admit I did struggle with the shading on his fur, I'm surprisingly pleased with how he turned out.

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

• Furr: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Blueprint Sketch
• Reds: Festive Berries, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Whimsy Stamps My Significant Otter
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Border Dies
• Cheery Lynn Designs LG Square Stitched Die

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Something New (the image was a b'day pressie)
• That's Crafty! - Anything Goes
• Whimsy Stamps Challenge - Anything Goes
• Country View Crafts - Anything Goes using Blueprint Sketch
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Something New (the image)
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes with Whimsy

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Lunar Animal Ruler

It's hump-day already so I'm here with my mid-week creation for Dies to Die For.  I bought a ruler that you can customise from Staples Office Depot.  The back of the ruler opens and you can slide in a decorated card strip which is then sealed back inside when you clip the back piece in place again.

The ruler is fairly narrow, so I needed to use some dinky images. The Lunar Animal cuties from Mama Elephant were the perfect size so I created a line-up of them.  They were nice and easy to watercolour and I shaded around the edge of the panel with blue ink to create some sky.

I hope you like my little project which was really easy to make.  I gave this as a little extra Xmas gift to a fellow crafter so she can put in her own strip whenever she wants to replace or refresh it.

 Here's a closer view of the critters:

Project Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Mama Elephant Lunar Animals
• Versafine Ink Pad

Other:

• Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Ruler (from Office Depot)

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Something New (the stamp set)
• That's Crafty! - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx