Beary Sweet Wishes

For someone who doesn't like yellows and oranges, I seem to have a Springtime colour theme going on recently. It must be the hope of warmer days on the horizon. Unfortunately I think we have a short cold spell to get through before we see Spring arrive so I will have to make do with some sunshine inspired crafting instead.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Yellows: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Greys: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sunshine Friends

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Mocha Brown Card 240gsm

Other:

• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny in a Pot

Another sneak peek of the soon-to-be-relaesed images at Lili of the Valley.   They're due out on Monday so only a couple more days to wait!

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

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

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Pot: Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Oranges: Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo

Card Recipe:

• Spring Rabbits from Lili of the Valley
• Bubblegum Pink Card 170gsm
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Let's Stick Together Forever

I've used the name of this prickly stamp set from MFT as inspiration for a Valentine themed project.

The lettering is typed in a font called 'Tasty Burger' and cut out in plain red card using my Silhouette. 

I've outlined the text firstly in black card then baby pink and hammered white card to give it some depth and shadow.

I've also embossed the red card which was quite fiddly with the dinky apostrophe but I laid some tape across the back of the whole strip after cutting it so that the letters didn't fall out while I embossed them.  I then glued them all onto the black outline using the negative as a guide to ensure they were all correctly spaced and level.

The little cactus couple image is stamped, watercoloured and included in the outline shadow so that it forms part of the overall shape of the cardbase.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Let's Stick Together Stamp Set
• MFT Let's Stick Together Die Set
• Whimsy Slimline Embossing Folder - Thatched

Papermill Direct:

• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Baby Pink Plain Card 240gsm
• Hammered White Card 255gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Emboss it

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny in a Teacup

The new release at Lili of the Valley is due out on 20 February so I'm sharing a sneak peek of one of the cute new Spring bunnies.

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Blues: Uncharted Mariner
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet
• Oranges: Dried Marigold, Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Teacup Bunnies
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Cherry Blossom
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Flat backed pearls

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Wish Big!!!

A very clean and simple card, embossed main panel layered onto a pop of red, with a die cut sentiment in red glitter card. 

Simples!

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Dienamics Wish Die

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Post Box Red Smooth 240gsm
• Red Glitter Card 220gsm

From Simon Says Stamp:

• Simon Says Stamp Kaleidoscope Embossing Folder

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Fun with Dies
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Country View Crafts - Be Sentimental

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Chick

There is a new batch of cuteness being released for Easter at Lili of the Valley.  Today's card features one of the sweet chicks who is perfect for a Spring card.

I've watercoloured my image and decorated my card with pretty lemon papers and flowers, topped off with a double organza ribbon bow.

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Chick: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Rusty Hinge
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Plant pot: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flower: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion

Card Recipe:

• Little Easter Stamp Set from Lili of the Valley
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Big Birthday Wishes

I've used the MFT Big Birthday Wishes die to create a simple card in some gorgeous glittered cardstock.  

The photo really doesn't do this pink card justice and even the cream card is textured.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Big Birthday Wishes
• MFT A2 Stitched Rectangles

Papermill Direct:

• Rich Cream Hemp Card 255gsm
• Raspberry Pink Card 170gsm
• Cerise Pink Glitter Card 220gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Sentimental
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Fun with Dies
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Quokka Lotta Flowers

I'm really enjoying the abundance of these adorable quokka characters recently, with their smiley expressions!  This one's for a lovely crafting friend so I've used some fresh Springtime coloured papers and a seasonal yellow colour theme.

I've used the negative cut-outs from my open petal Orange Blossom dies to create some little pear shaped drops in the corners and bottom of the card, decorated with some golden pearls for a little bit of added decoration. The pearlescent bronze card was to nice to throw away!!!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Amanda Jayne Designs

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flowers: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Flowers for you Quokka from Amanda Jayne Designs
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• 3mm Gold Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL92 Circles with Raw Edges
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Orange Blossom Open & Closed petals
• Bronze Pearl Card 300gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Fun with Dies (using the cut-outs from the petals too!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pink Glittered Birthday

There's a distinct lack of watercolouring from me today, and instead I'm sharing a bright bold glittery neon pink die-cut card!!!

I've cut the letters using my huge CC Designs alphabet and arranged them in a quirky pattern (mostly so they fit onto the slimline cardbase!) and created two layers of outline using my Silhouette machine.

The cardbase is embossed and layered again onto pink before finally laying on the cardbase.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

• CC Deisigns Alphabet Dies
• Creative Expression Quilted Pillow 3D Embossing Folder

Papermill Direct:

• Pink Glittered Card
• Pink Plain Card
• Rich Cream Hammered Card

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Craft - Be Sentimental

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Big Birthday Scraps

I've used the MFT Big Birthday Wishes die to create a simple card in some various purples and gingham cardstock.  I've cut the wording out from Hammered Cream card and used alternating stripes of scraps behind to show through the negative. It's all layered onto Deep Violet card and finally onto a cream cardbase.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Big Birthday Wishes
• MFT A2 Stitched Rectangles

Papermill Direct:

• Rich Cream Hemp Card 255gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• Dark Violet Plain Card 240gsm
• Lilac Gingham 300gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Be Sentimental

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Thank You Bear

A little Thank You card featuring this adorable teddy bear and butterflies. 

I've foiled the text in lime green to match the greens in the image and added a die cut butterfly to complement the butterflies in the papers.  Other than that, it's a simple layout and fairly flat for posting.

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
  

Card Recipe:

• Hello Bear by Amanda Jayne Designs
• Memory Box Pippi Butterfly & Memory Box Isabella Butterfly
• Creative Expressions Graceful Butterflies and Dragonflies Paper Collection

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Just a Quokka Note

I'm on a mission to make a small bundle of cards that I can gift to my Mother-in-Law for her to use when she writes to her friends.  I thought it best to keep them fairly flat so they're not too expensive for posting. 

Today's is a 'just a note' card featuring one of Amanda Jayne Designs' adorable new quokka images.  I've used the little guy carrying the pencil to make it look like he's the one writing the note!  

I typed and foiled the text, but as usual it's challenging to photograph the shimmer of the foil, so I've taken another photo at an arty angle which shows it a little better.

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye 
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Pencil: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Prize Ribbon, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Quokka with Pencil by Amanda Jayne Designs
• Rich Cream Card Hammered 255gsm
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Camellia Open & Closed petals
• Creative Exprssions Graceful Butterflies and Dragonflies paper collection
• Enamel Dots (Hobbycraft)

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Birthday

This week at As You Like It Challenge we want to know your favourite colour, and mine's a tough choice between purple and pink.  However, I wanted to make a card for a friend using this patterned paper because it reminds me of a fabric she has on some roller blinds in her 'she-shed' and every time I see the blinds I am certain it's the same pattern!  It's one of my oldest paper pads and has lasted more than 10 years because it's remained one of my favourites and I can't bring myself to use it very often!!!  

I'm intending to hand deliver this card, so I've thrown caution to the wind and embellished it with lots of 3D paper flowers and a wired ribbon bow.  The personalised sentiment is typed and cut with my Silhouette and I've created a matt outline in the same dark burgundy card that frames the image and patterned paper panel.  The ribbon looks like it's a different shade of purple in the photo, but I think that's my lamp reflecting on its sheen because in real life its colour is much closer to the papers.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lili of the Valley

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flower: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Squeezed Lemonade, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Spring Rabbit Mail from Lili of the Valley
• Papermania Patterned papers
• Wired Purple ribbon
• Various paper flowers
• Enamel dots
• Sentiment cut with Silhouette

Papermill Direct:

• Vino Sirio Card 290gsm
• Smooth White Card 160gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Badger with Paintbrush

A simple card with a watercoloured badger and a typed sentiment. I've foiled the sentiment to give it a bit of added interest but otherwise it's a very simple layout with a matt of dark green to complement the colours in the image.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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

• Badger: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Paintbrush: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Speckled Egg
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Badger with Paintbrush Digistamp by Lee Holland
• Font for typed sentiment - Take Warning
• Heidi Swapp Foiling machine and Lime Green foil
  
  

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Verde Foresta Nettuno Linen Effect Green Card 280gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - 4 legged animals

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Big Birthday Wishes

A really simple card (no colouring!) using this Big Birthday Wishes die from MFT.

I've embossed some Rich Cream hammered card for extra texture and it's all layered onto a violet card frame before adding onto a cream cardbase.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Big Birthday Wishes
• Pinkfresh Studio Sparkling Diamond Die

Papermill Direct:

• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• Rich Cream Hammered Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mouse Tags

I've been playing with my new MFT tags and Mouse stamp set to create this sweet duo of gift-tags.  

The two meecies are waterecoloured and fussy cut, and I've added a trim of coloured paper cut with a stitched cloud edger die at the top.

The tags are cut in a hammered cream card with a base ourline in a matching solid colour. 

I've added some soft seam binding and organza ribbon to finish them off.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Mice: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Mice Day to Celebrate Stamp set
• MFT Mice Day to Celebrate matching dies
• MFT Tall Tag Duo Dynamics
• Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies

From Papermill Direct

• Violet Card 290gsm
• New Turquoise Card 170gsm
• Ivory Hammered Card 255gsm

Other

• 15mm Organza Spotty Ribbon
• 15mm purple seam binding

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Four-Legged Animals

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sunflower Placemat

Today's post is a change from my normal papercrafting project becuase I've and a crochet break!  

I've made a pair of sunflower placemats which I'm really pleased with.  I based them on a tutorial that I found on You-Tube for a smaller coaster version, and I just added extra rounds of Dark Brown before changing to the Dandelion Yellow.  I might make some coasters at a later time, but I'm a bit dandelioned out after making 2 of them. They're quite quick to make, and I managed one on Sunday and another split over 2 evenings.

Project Recipe:

• Stylecraft Dandelion DK
• Stylecraft Dark Brown DK
• 4mm crochet hook
• Dandelion Coaster Tutorial (but with 9 rounds of Brown instead of 6 for placemat size)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Slimline Birthday Text

I've created a slimline base card (10cm x 21cm) using Rich Cream Hemp card, and layered a slightly smaller rectangle of New Turquoise.

The remaining rectangle of Rich Cream Hemp has been trimmed slightly smaller again, to leave a narrow frame around each layer.

The last layer has been embossed using Nellie Snellen embossing folder to give it a bit more interest.

The Birthday word was cut with my Silhouette cutter using a file called Birthday and Presents Words (Miss Kate Cuttables Silhouette Design ID 132773) and I've added 2 outline layers in alternating New Turquoise and Rich Cream Hemp for more definition of the word.

Finally I've cut some flowers using a die set by Hunkydory Moonshine called Fabulous Flowers and layered them around my text.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• New Turquoise Card 170gsm
• Rich Cream Hemp Card 255gsm

Other:

• Silhouette Cut File by Miss Kate Cuttables
• Hunkydory Moonshine Fabulous Flowers
• Nellie Snellen Embossing Folder
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You're Amazing

It's our first challenge of the year at As You Like It Challenge, and we want to know your favourite occasion to craft for. I love crafting for Christmas, but I'm a bit Christmass'ed out so my next favourite occasion is a 'just because' card, to tell someone special that you're thinking of them. I made this card for my bestie, as a little way to tell her how much she means to me.  

I've watercoloured the bunnies, framed them with some of my favourite papers, and added a layered sentiment which I die cut, and added some extra bits (the 'you're' text and the outline shadow) using my Silhouette.

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

As You Like It Challenge

Papermill Direct

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Blues: Uncharted Mariner, Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Villainous Potion
• Ground: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet

Card Recipe:

• April Showers by Amanda Jayne Designs
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL34 Double Stitched Squares
• Avery Elle Simply Said "Amazing" die
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 'Fresh Mix' font used for 'you're' text cut in Silhouette Studio

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Too Cute

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mice Day to Celebrate

Today's card is a simple design using some MFT papers and Whimsy Birthday layered shadow die to decorate this watercoloured mouse from the Mice Day To Celebrate set.  Despite losing his balloon, this little mouse still seems happy!

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dy
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Speckled Egg, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Mice Day to Celebrate
• MFT Joyful Plaid Papers
• Whimsy Stamps Birthday Word and Shadow Die
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Post Box Red Smooth 240gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Too Cute

Happy crafting
Annette
xx