Yappy Birthday

There's a pack of puppies seeking some attention and wishing a Yappy Birthday today!  The set's from Mama Elephant and I had to do a bit of masking of these cuties to group them. I added a sentiment and paw print from the same set.

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

• Grey Dog: Pumice Stone, Black Soot
• Tan Dog: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Brown Dog: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss
• Reds: Festive Berries, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Mama Elephant Playful Pups
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Paper Pack Plaid Patterns Merry & Bright
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Border Dies

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes with dies

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Bottle

I've made a second card for the new release of baby images at Lili of the Valley which are due out today.  I've created a bottle shaped base card and added the Clouds image in a pink theme.

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

• Giraffe/Basket/Brown teddy: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• T-shirt: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Baby: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Bunnies: Worn Lipstick
• Blue teddy: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Birds: Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Baby's clothes: Seedless Preserves
• Clouds: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Pink twine

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• The Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Heffalump Babygro

There's an adorable new baby themed release due tomorrow at Lili of the Valley and I've made this card using one of the cute new images. This guy's called Scruffy Edward and I've used the balloon he comes with to create a bunch which I've fussy-cut and linked to the heffalump using embroidery thread.  I've added some small heart buttons and doodle-stitch around all the edges in markers which complement the papers.

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

• Elephant: Weathered Wood, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Hickory Smoke
• Jumper: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen
• Balloons: Stormy Sky 

Card Recipe:

• Scruffy Edward from Lili of the Valley
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Navy blue heart buttons

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Doodle
• The Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Cookies

Since it's still not feeling like Spring here yet, I've opted for another tally mark on the Christmas card stock with a cute mouse and sentiment from Gerda Steiner.  The papers are not specifically festive but are sufficiently versatile to fit the bill!

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: Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany
• White/Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Cookies/Boots: Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

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

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Rose

I've been playing with some other colouring mediums lately (like my Zig Brush markers and also my DoCrafts Artiste watercolour markers), but my go-to 'safe place' always has to be my DI reinkers. I'm forever learning with them and I have some favourite blends that I use all the time, but I may have gone a bit overboard with the shadows on today's image because there is quite a bit of depth in the petals!  

Ultimately I really like watercolouring with the inks - it's therapeutic although it does take me about 3 times longer than using Copics!

I matched her with rose petal papers called 'Always and Forever' from LOTV (available from Nitwits as digi papers now). Come and share your favourite colouring medium with us this fortnight at As You Like It Challenge.

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

• Hair/Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Stamping Bella Tiny Townie Garden Girl Rose
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Nitwit Collections Always and Forever Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL36 Double Stitched Rectangles

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Do I Smell Cake?

I think I could probably sniff out chocolate at 50 paces, but this little fella has sniffed out a huge cupcake that he's now got is eyes on.  I don't think the cake would've lasted too long with me but it looks like it's about to disappear soon anyway.

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

• Monster: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Monster Fun
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• 5mm Crystal Gems

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Circles
• The Sketchy Challenge - Favourite colours (purple with a splash of pink)
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Mythology (monsters!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Love gnomes no boundaries

I've been playing with these sweet gnomes this week to create a bright and fun card. The punny text was typed and I noted the irony of offsetting the sentiment outside the "boundary" of the image panel! :0)

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, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Pumice Stone
• Belt: Pumice Stone, Black Soot
• Flowers: Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Gerda Steiner 
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Sentiment typed (Font: Beneath your beautiful chunk)

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda's Monthly Challenge
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious Challenge - Friendship

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sabre Tooth Tigger

I'm sharing a rare 'just for fun' card using a stamp set I've recently bought from Clearly Besotted. I masked the cavemen characters together, making the little girl and boy appear to be holding hands.

I also masked all three of them in order to ink the sky using a small dauber and Tumbled Glass ink pad. The little daubers give a lovely smooth coverage and the colour gets really close to the black line of the image without bleeding into the image itself.  I find it much easier than using a paintbrush and blending it out.

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

• Tiger: Tea Dye, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Ground Espresso, Hickory Smoke
• Girl's Hair: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Boy's Hair & Club: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Clearly Besotted You Rock Additions
• Versafine Ink Pad
• First Edition Animal Antics paper pack

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Trio (3 characters)

Happy crafting

Annette
xx

You're my Favourite Human

I've been playing with my MFT puppies again with a cute little canine themed card. This little fella needs to tuck into those biscuits before someone else grabs them! 

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

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot 
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Puppy Pals from MFT
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Patterned Plaids Merry & Bright Paper Pack
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Trio (trio of pearls and only 3 colours used: green, blue and red)
• Creative Knockouts - Outside Fun

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dressed Up

I'm sharing a little sweetie from Lili of the Valley called 'Dressed Up' today for my As You Like It card sample.  The theme is to share your favourite flowers. I couldn't decide whether to opt for my favourite paper flowers (embellishments) or my favourite garden variety, so I played it safe and opted for both!  

For floral embellishments I love lilies and open roses which I often use, as well as the starburst ones which I can't seem to buy anymore.  I also sneaked in a two-tone pink rosehip which I think are beautiful.

However, the flowers that I love most in the garden are tulips, which I rarely use in paper form.  Tulips remind me of Spring with the end of the cold weather in sight. I also love the variety in colour and especially love the double variety which can resemble roses.  I love the pinks and plum colours, but my favourites are probably oranges and yellows, which remind me of little flames lighting up the garden in the Spring sunshine!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry

Card Recipe:

• Dressed Up from Lili of the Valley
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• CC Designs Cutters Mini Alpha and Numbers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Hip Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Tulip Flowers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12
• 5mm Pink Crystals
• 15mm Satin ribbon (colour Beauty)

I've been inspired by:

• Dream Valley - Spring Colours
• Noor! - Spring
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You Make My Heart Happy

There's romance in the air with a Gerda Steiner stamp set called 'Fall in Love'. I've used the pair of squirrels with the tree, masking the little critters to make sure they appeared to 'sit' on the branch.  The sentiments in the 'Fall in Love' set are autumnal so I've added a sentiment from an MFT set called Friends Furever instead.

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

• Fur: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Tree: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Fall In Love
• MFT Friends Furever
• MFT Bundles of Blossoms Pastels Paper Pack
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner - Share your designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Close Your Eyes

"Close Your Eyes" is the name of the image I've used today, but if you're not a fan of fussy cards, then you may want to take the advice yourself.  I admit that when it comes to wedding cards, I do tend to veer away from the CAS look and today's wedding card is no exception; there's barely a bit of base card that you can still see!

I've watercoloured an older image from Lili of the Valley and surrounded it in a frame of lace, flowers, mesh and pearls.  I've used a very old Whiff of Joy heart banner die which I've finally managed to suss out when it comes to adding a date to it in the right place to fit inside the heart.

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

• Hair: Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Blue on outfits: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Girl's socks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick

Card Recipe:

• Close your Eyes from Lili of the Valley
• Glossy Accents
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Go Kreate Labels nested die
• Whiff of Joy Heart Banner
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• White Pearl String
• Ivory Jute Mesh Ribbon
• Lace

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Floral Frenzy

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Take a Break!

Happy Friday!!!  

Today's 'Take a Break' card is extremely apt because it's my last day working in a company where I've been for over 20 years.  I've got some new adventures planned just around the corner which are going to keep me very busy, but for the final time, in my present role at least ... it's pens down and relax!  

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

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Tattered Rose, Black Soot
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Shelf: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

• Cat in Bookshelf from Gerda Steiner
• Sentiment from Gerda Steiner's Monster Fun clear stamp set

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner Monthly Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Good Luck on your New Adventure

I'm feeling 'lost in space' today with my astronaut themed scene using a set from Gerda Steiner.  I stamped the little guy, his martian buddy, the spaceship and masked them all along with the moon (a plain masked circle) before using my dauber to ink around the edge of the card with some DI Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans and Black Soot inks.  I then coloured my scene trying to give a little moon-glow to my spaceman's outfit and shaded the moon with some Scattered Straw ink.  I stamped the sentiment at the end to finish it off.

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
• Martian: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Black Soot
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• "Whites": Weathered Wood
• Spaceship: Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tumbled Glass
• Flame: Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge
• Moon: Scattered Straw

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Blast Off
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Road Trip
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Bunny

I love cute and fuzzy bunnies so there's no better excuse to feature these little critters on my card than at Easter ... and there's nothing better to accompany the Easter Bunny than some yummy chocolate!  Two of my favourite things on one card! :0)  It's perfect for our Easter Critter themed challenge at As You Like It so pop over to join in.

Card Recipe:

• Hoppy Easter from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Nitwit Collections Papers (Petal Fresh)
• Watercoloured with Zig Real Brush Waterbased Markers
• Button Twine
• Blue Crystal Drop

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Easter Inspired
• That's Crafty! - Spring into Action
• Cupcake Inspirations - Pets
• Noor! - Spring
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Spring/Easter

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Lumberjack Birthday

For my mid-week post I'm using Lumberjack Guys again from CC Designs, this time for a birthday card.  I've teamed him with some green papers and a natural colour scheme so hopefully he's neutral enough to qualify on my masculine card tally.  I love his cheeky grin and pose!

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, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Trousers: 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
• Flat Backed Pearls

Other:

• Maja Design paper pad

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Howdy From The Herd

For my mid-week post this week I'm sharing a pop up box card featuring a whole herd of cuteness from My Favorite Things.  I made this little card for a lovely blogfriend who loves animals so I thought it was perfect for her.  Unfortunately it's almost impossible to photograph because the little piggy was determined to hide behind the cow, so this was the best I could get.  There's also a tractor and cart at the back (but the piggy in the cart was also hiding from view!).  I think he's shy!

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

• Browns: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Pig: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Tractor: Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany
• Wood: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sheep: Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Farm Friends
• MFT Dienamics Farm Friends
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• Memory Box Wrought Iron Fence

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Fairies in the Wood

Lili of the Valley have some new fairy images coming out soon, and I've used one on today's card. She's called Fairies in the Woods and I've repeated the lefthand tree an extra three times to create a little woodland filling up the right hand side of my card.  I've used papers from LOTV that are now available (I think) as digis from Nitwits.

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

• Hair: Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry
• Star: Mustard Seed & gold gel pen.

Card Recipe:

• Fairies in the Wood from LOTV
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Pink gingham ribbon
• Pink paper flower, punched 'inner' and large flat backed pearl center.

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - In My Garden
• Noor! - Spring
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Chicks

Despite the snow and ice, we're heading into Spring over at Squirrel's Random Challenge so we're looking for your take on this season's 'traditional' colours and themes in your creations. 

Instead of my usual DI reinkers I optimistically thought it would be a good idea to use my neglected Zig Brush watercolour pens which are much brighter, but I found that I didn't have the depth of colour that I wanted, so I had to 'enhance' the colours with some DoCraft Artiste Watercolour pens that I've had for years (also neglected).  They were both really easy to blend with and between the two sets I found that I had a much better variety of colours and shades.  They do look much brighter than my usual cards, but I think I probably could have achieved similar with the DIs by choosing the right colours!  The watercolour markers are definitely more mobile though, so maybe an option for holidays!

At As You Like It we're asking if you prefer layers or flat cards, and I must admit that I'm a bit of a fan of both (depending on my mood or the theme).  However, even though this was intended to be a fairly flat card, I can't resist adding layers of papers using dies and ribbons.  Even the tag that I added was raised up on foam pads, so I guess I like layers!  I do think a bit of texture makes a hand crafted card differ from something that's shop-bought.

Card Recipe:

• Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Zig Brush Markers and DoCraft Artiste Watercolour Pens
• Gardening Chicks from Stamping Bella
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Tiny Tags
• Narrow satin ribbon
• Sentiment printed in "KG Beneath Your Beautiful Chunk" font
• Nitwit Papers Perfect Pair

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday 'In My Garden' Challenge
• Noor! - Spring
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx