Frosty Hugs

My project for Polkadoodles Digi Choosday this week is a large Christmas tag featuring Frosty Hugs and some pretty holly papers from Winnie White Christmas.  As usual my image is watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.

Project Recipe:

• Polkadoodles Frosty Hugs
• Polkadoodles Winnie White Christmas Papers
• Pretty Pink Posh Eyelet Borders
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Tag No. 08 (with dots)
• Hunkydory Moonstone Fabulous Flowers

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Penguin's Big Catch

There's still time to squeeze in a few more Christmas cards!

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

• Penguin: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Speckled Egg, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot,

Shading enhanced using Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Penguin's Big Catch
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax

Papermill Direct:

• Mojito Cocktail Double Sided pearlised Card 290gsm
• Postbox Red Smooth Card 240gsm
• Red Glitter Card 220gsm

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Sue Wilson Poinsettia
• 8mm White Flat backed pearls
  

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dragon Star

I've enjoyed watercolouring this startstruck dragon from Lee Holland Digis for a Christmas tag.

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

• Dragon: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Yellows: Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Ground: Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg, Black Soot

Project Recipe:

• Dragon Looking at Star from Lee Holland
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Tag No. 08

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Christmas Gifting

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Give us a Hug

We want to know if you prefer dies or stencils over at As You Like It Challenge this fornight. Although I've recently bought a few more stencils this year, I still use them only a fraction as much as my dies. I must have hundreds of dies (and still collecting!) but only half a dozen stencils.  I love the intricacy of the dies, especially the ones I've used today.

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

• Hair: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood
• Ground: Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Magnolia Tilda in Cosy Coat
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Card Making Magic Die Set Easel
• Tattered Lace Foundation Doilies
• Maja Design Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

A cup of tea and a slice of cake ...

I've been playing with some of my uninked images this week and have this little sweetie to share with you today.  I am ashamed to look at the pile of new stamps and dies that I've bought recently but am already looking at the new releases!  

I've watercoloured the image but in a change from the norm, I've attempted to accent the shading with my Inktense Pencils.  I've used the Mama Elephant script die and layered it twice by creating matting layers with my Silhouette cutting machine.

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
• Cup: Milled Lavender, Villainous Potion
• Flower: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Dress: Salvaged Patina, Peacock Feathers
• Ground: Speckled Egg, Hickory Smoke

Shadows enhanced with Derwent Inktense pencils

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Tiny Townie Loves Tea
• Mama Elephant Friend Script
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax
• MFT Papers
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Holly Hedgehog Tag

I'm stocking up on my Christmas Tags with a little help from Holly Hedgehog and the Let's Hang Out paper pack.  My image is, as always, watercoloured using my Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.

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

• Hedgehog: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Scarf: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Background: Weathered Wood
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12
• Taylored Expression Brick by Brick stencil
• Pretty Pink Posh Eyelet Borders
• Simon Says Stamp Snow die
• Sue Wilson Striped Nasturtium Flowers

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Christmas Gifting

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You're havin' a Giraffe (or three)

I've ventured away from my usual watercolouring with a trio of die cut gift tags.  I've cut out a double layer large stitched gift-tag, and inked the background using a double-layered stencil and some Peeled Paint Distress ink.  I've die-cut the giraffe in mocha, buff and cream before mix 'n' matching them together to create 3 different complete colour combos. 

The tags have been personalised by cutting names using my Silhouette cutter (using font Wendy Medium) and layered the lettering three times to make it stand out.  Finally I've added a trio of pearls and some seam binding so that it can be tied onto a gift.

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Die-namics Joyful Giraffe
• Scattered Leaves Stencil from Honey Bee.

Papermill Direct:

• Mocha Brown Plain Card 240gsm
• Buff Smooth Card 260gsm
• Cream Vellum Plain Card 290gsm
• Verdigris Materica Card 250gsm (pale green)
• Tintoretto Wasabi Card 250gsm (dark green)

Other:

• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12
• Seam binding
• 5mm flat backed pearls

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Woolly Hugs

I've had a lot of fun colouring this Woolly Dragon from Lee Holland.  He's right up my street as I love crocheting so it's a perfect image for someone who likes yarncraft.

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

• Dragon: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Rustic Wilderness
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Yarns:   brown: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, 
               orange: Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
               purple: Milled Lavender, Villainous Potion

Card Recipe:

• Dragon Holding Wool from Lee Holland
• Polkadot Card from PaperMill Direct
• Plain Violet card
• Super Smooth White card (card base)
• Simon Says Stamp Scripty Big Hugs die
• Tattered Lace Essential Doily Squares (I used the square to create a rectangle)
• Lime green mesh webbing ribbon
• 5mm flat backed pearls
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Woolly Dragon Stocking

As well as papercrafting, one of my other addictions is crochet, and as soon as I saw this little woolly dragon I knew I'd love to colour him up.  Popped onto a supersized gifttag he's the perfect companion for one of my recent crochet projects: a Christmas Stocking.  The photo's a bit dark, but the stocking is a deep purple with cream accents, and I've popped some purple yarn into the dragon's stash too!

Here's a close up of the gift-tag, which is about 8 inches tall:

The stocking crochet pattern is an easy tutorial from Alexis Middleton at Persialou (YouTube Tutorial or Written Pattern) and has a lovely shell stitch texture. The size is great, mine is about 20 inches in length, so it's great for actually presenting gifts inside.

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

• Dragon: Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Yarns: brown: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
             purple: Milled Lavender, Villainous Potion
             orange: Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Box: WTea Dye, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Project Recipe:

• Dragon Woolly Treat from Lee Holland
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Circles with Dots
• Crochet Stocking Pattern

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Any Holiday Occasion
• Country View - Christmas Gifting

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Carols

This week at As You Like It Challenge we want to know your favourite circle embelishments.  My large stash of flat backed pearls gives the game away for me; I've got them in dozens of colours. I'm not a huge fan of sequins or buttons on cards but love the sheen of a trio of pearls.  I've added two corners of them on today's card, which is made using my new MFT Christmas Carol stamp set and some MFT Pop up Holiday Greetings dies.  The papers are from Lawn Fawn.

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

• Owl: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Cow: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Foal: Hickory Smoke, Pumice Stone
• Piggie: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Lamp: Scattered Straw, Hickory Smoke, Weathered Wood, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• MFT Christmas Carol stamp set
• MFT Stitched Rectangle Nesting Dies
• Lawn Fawn Papers
• MFT Holiday Greeting Pop Up Dienamics
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 6mm Satin Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious Challenges - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bella Bear Gift Box

As well as papercrafts I enjoy making jewellery and have made some bracelets for Christmas gifts this year.  I've decorated this gift box with Bella Bear Gift, and inked a background using my Distressed Trellis stencil. The image, as usual, is watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Any Holiday Occasion
• Country View Crafts - Christmas Gifting
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Jack O'Lantern Box

Happy Halloween folks!  I've made a few little treat pouches, including this fairly simple one using a standard gable box in some bright orange card.  I've cut out a Jack-o-Lantern face and popped some black card behind it on the inside.  It's large enough to hold a couple of fun-sized chocolate bars ready for the Trick or Treaters tonight.

Project Materials:

From Papermill Direct:

• Intensive Orange 210gsm Plain Card
• Plain Black 240gsm Card

Other:

• Gable Box Jack-o-Lantern Silhouette cut file

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Critter Gift Pouches

I've been buying my plain A4 card from Papermill Direct and I'm so excited to have been invited to join their Design Team.   Last Saturday I received a box stuffed full of every colour of A4 card you can think of and I couldn't resist having a play with some of it over the weekend.  

It's also given me a great excuse (as if I needed one!) to try to get some more use out of my Silhouette cutting machine, and as my first project I've used a Fox Box and Squirrel Box cutting design to make a couple of cute gift pouches.

Below is the view of my Fox Box from the front so you can see his cute face!

And below is a photo from the side so you can see the pouch, and his tail peeking out on the back.  The card is really thick and because there are quite a few layers on his face, it's really sturdy.

Project Materials:

From Papermill Direct:

• Intensive Orange Plain 210gsm Card
• Black Plain 240gsm Card
• Mocha Brown Plain 240gsm Card
• White Super Smooth 300gsm Card

Other:

• Fox Box Silhouette Cutting File

And next is the Squirrel Box clutching his little acorn:

Project Materials:

From Papermill Direct:

• Terra Rossa Materica 250gsm Card
• Mocha Brown Plain 240gsm Card
• Panna Nettuno Linen Effect 280gsm Card
• Black Plain 240gsm Card
• White Super Smooth 300gsm Card

Other:

• Squirrel Box Silhouette Cutting File

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pingu Gift Tag

I'm sharing another super-sized gift tag made using my lovely MFT Penguin Party from Dies to Die For.  I've layered it twice onto thick burgundy card die cut using my Crealies nesting tag set.  I love adding these to gifts, and although this little pingu would be perfect for a Birthday, I've given this one a Christmas theme by adding some snowflake ribbon.

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

• Penguin: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Wild Honey
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Penguin Party

Other:

• Organza Ribbon with Snowflakes
• Glossy Accents
• Dark Red 250gsm Card
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pingu Tag

At As You Like It Challenge this fortnight we want to know if you prefer (crafting with) critters or people (no comment on whether you prefer mixing with the real thing!).  I've opted for critters as I love using cute critters on my projects.  I prefer colouring fur than hair and the cuteness of the images.  I've used an adorable Pingu which is one of my favourite winter themed critters too.

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

• Pingu: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Satchel: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Blueprint Sketch
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Stacey Yacula Wallace Penguin Mail Carrier from Purple Onion Designs
• Memory Box Twilight Snowflake Dies
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• MFT Merry Christmas Circle Frame
• Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels & Tags no. 12
• Flat backed pearls

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gnomes Advent Calendar Box

This is my second gate-fold chocolate advent calendar, made using mount board which I've covered with 12" papers and decorated with a matching band to keep it closed.   

I've used a Stamping Bella image and some wide satin ribbon to decorate the band, and there are some large 3D pearls to hold it in place.

Project Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella GnomeDeer
• Stitched Rectangle Dies

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Halloween Hexagon Pop Up

For my Polkadoodles Digi Choosday project today I've created a hexagon pop-up Halloween decoration using Winnie Witch and Cat and some orange papers from the Winnie Celebrations 3 paper bundle. 

As usual I've watercoloured my image using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.  

The hexagon shaped cardbase is a Silhouette design by Lori Whitlock.

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Halloween / Spooky

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Penguin Gift Tag

This adorable little pingu looks like he's playing 'Jack in the Box', popping up to say 'hi' on this Christmas gift tag.  As usual he's watercoloured with Distress Inks and topped off with a scrap of organza ribbon.

Project Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Penguin Party
• MFT Dienamics Oval Stax

Other:

• Organza ribbon
• Glossy Accents
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sunflower Blanket

Brace yourself; there's not a paintbrush in sight today because this fornight at As You Like It Challenge we want to see your favourite non-card project, and it doesn't even need to be papercrafts.  

So for my project I'm sharing a sunflower granny square blanket that I made for my Mother-in-Law's birthday which is next week.  Sunflowers are her favourite flowers and I followed a Tutorial on YouTube by Bag-o-Day.  It was an easy pattern, and after the first dozen or so squares I think I could've made them in my sleep!  

I bought a yellow fleece blanket from Wilko to line the reverse, although I did spend an afternoon weaving all the loose ends in anyway.  I made enough granny squares to cover the fleece (which was 40 as it turned out).  I then joined and bordered them before attaching the lining.   

There are a lot of photos below, but I was so pleased with how it turned out considering I've not been crocheting very long and this is the biggest project I've attempted.  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bella Advent Calendar

I've made a gate-fold chocolate advent calendar using mount board which I've covered with 12" papers and decorated with a matching band to keep it closed.   I've used a Stamping Bella image and some wide satin ribbon to decorate the band, and there are some little pearls to hold it in place.

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

• Robin: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye, Tattered Rose
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Project Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Bundle Girl with Christmas Tree and a Birdie
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stax
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Not a Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx